Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing

What you will study

To complete the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing, you must fulfil 100 credits or four units.

Core units (25 credits each)

• Advanced Clinical Nursing Science 1
• Advanced Clinical Practice 1
• Advanced Clinical Nursing Science 2
• Advanced Clinical Practice 2

Entry requirements

• Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and registration as a comprehensive or general nurse in Division One with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). 
• Prospective applicants should have a minimum of 12 months experience in a specialist area of practice and must be concurrently employed in an approved area, working a minimum of 18-24 hours per week.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Specifically, to support applications for credit for recognised learning, students are required to submit a professional portfolio detailing evidence of accomplishments.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Analyse critically and evaluate advanced concepts of specialty nursing practice; integrate expert knowledge and integrated understanding to demonstrate competency at a level in accordance with specialty competency standards.
• Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise the environmental, physical and psychosocial aspects of the individual for effective clinical decision-making; recognise own abilities and level of professional competence.
• Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex evidence and scientific literature to inform decision-making in specialty practice.
• Integrate advanced communication skills within a legal and ethical framework related to complex clinical issues in the area of specialty; interpret and transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Effectively anticipate, plan for and use complex technology applications relevant to specialty practice.
• Integrate autonomous, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a lifelong learner in specialty practice; participate in research and critically appraise research findings and incorporate evidence based knowledge into clinical
• practice.
• Critically appraise, evaluate and incorporate national and global health issues and strategic healthcare directions into specialty nursing practice.
• Incorporate culturally aware and respectful specialty care to multicultural groups and Indigenous communities.
• Incorporate advanced theoretical and specialist knowledge and judgment, including advanced leadership and autonomy, into specialty practice.
• Work professionally in specialty practice demonstrating expert judgement, leadership and independence as a nurse in area of specialty; act as an experienced positive role model to peers and other members of the healthcare team.

Fees and CSP

Indicative fee in 2024: $1,100 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative full fee in 2024: $13,302 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Student fees may vary in accordance with:

• The number of units studied per term.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Choice of units.
• 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.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

• Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
• Depending on the study areas they relate to.
• Reviewed and adjusted each year.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.