Australian College of Nursing
Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Nursing
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Gain the knowledge and skills needed to ensure better outcomes for patients and progress their careers, leading to opportunities in clinical education, management and specialist nursing roles.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Nursing is designed for registered nurses working in a variety of orthopaedic environments. This course aims to cultivate excellence in the delivery of nursing care through the exploration and integration of theoretical knowledge, evidence‐based practice and clinical nursing. Content includes exploration of the impact of acute and chronic illness, differentiation of the range of musculoskeletal dysfunction associated with trauma and emphasises assessment and management strategies within both the adult and paediatric setting. This online course uses a variety of learning modes, including case studies, multimedia and discussion forums in a virtual classroom.
Graduates of this course will be better prepared to implement evidence-based practice and contemporary research to improve personal outcomes.
Key facts
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Nursing, a student must fulfil four units.
Core units
- Advancing Professional Practice
- Principles of Orthopaedic Nursing
- Clinical Practice in Orthopaedic Nursing
Elective
Choose one elective from the following:
- Advanced Applied Pathophysiology in Clinical Practice
- Assessing and Managing Adult Pain
- Assessment of the Older Person
- Therapeutic Communication
- Understanding Data in Health Care
- Wound Management
Entry requirements
Admission to a graduate certificate course is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria.
All applicants seeking admission are required to:
- Hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse equivalent qualification.
- Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin.
- Meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) - please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard.
- Have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience.
- Be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation.
For some GC units of study, individual consideration may be given to applicants who are not registered nurses.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
This course is designed to develop specific learning outcomes. Students will:
- Apply specialist knowledge of physiology, pathophysiology of diseases and trauma to the nursing assessment and management of people undergoing orthopaedic procedures.
- Explore the legal, ethical and cultural issues in relation to the nursing care of people undergoing orthopaedic procedures.
- Demonstrate specialist knowledge, comprehensive assessment skills and evidence‐based practice to improve orthopaedic nursing care.
- Evaluate complex clinical problems demonstrating a specialist approach to practice across the lifespan.
- Critically reflect on current practice and learning experiences to promote leadership, knowledge sharing and development of a philosophy of lifelong learning.
- Develop advanced communication skills in order to establish therapeutic relationships with stakeholders, support systems and the multidisciplinary team for a holistic approach to nursing care.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated total 2025 member price (10% discount): $9,949.5 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Estimated total 2025 non-member price: $11,055 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Being a part of the ACN community allows nurses to be the best they can be and strengthens the voice of nursing through various invaluable benefits, including 10% off graduate certificates.
Estimated fees are based on four units of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
