Graduate Certificate of Advanced Nursing

What you will study

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Advanced Nursing, students must attain a total of four credit points comprising of one core unit, plus three credit points of electives, of which two must be from the course electives. The remaining one elective can be from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university.

Core unit (one credit point)

• Patient Safety and Risk Management

Electives (two credit points)

Complete two units from the following:

• Pathophysiology of Diabetes
• Management of Diabetes
• Contemporary Approaches to Diabetes Education
• Diabetes in Social and Psychological Contexts
• Ethical Dimensions in Nursing
• Leadership and Management in Nursing
• Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' History, Culture and Health
• Biopsychosocialspiritual Mental Health Nursing Assessment
• Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing
• Facilitating Clinical Learning
• Healthcare in low-resource/Complex Environments
• Healthcare Management of Vulnerable Populations
• Quality and Safety in Medication Management
• Therapeutic Medication Management
• Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness
• Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing
• The Physical Health Needs of Persons with Mental Illness
• Sustaining the Mental Health Nursing Workforce
• Australian Aboriginal Holistic Health and Healing

Level 7 elective (one credit point)

• Any level 7 elective from anywhere in the university.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree, you will need to meet all the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent.
• Registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia with no conditions or restrictions or registered as a registered nurse in the country of practice or equivalent.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Bachelor's degree from a recognised English-speaking country.
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent.
• Other evidence of English language proficiency.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The university aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning, which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students must complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University or four credit points, whichever is greater. For certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to Deakin's Recognition of Prior Learning system, which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Depending on the units you have completed, your expertise will allow you to pursue a range of roles, including:

• Clinical nurse educator
• Associate or unit manager
• Research roles

Learning outcomes

Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate after their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured that your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.

• Demonstrate advanced nursing practice commensurate with nursing theoretical knowledge and evidence-based and person-centred care.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills to ensure quality, safe nursing care.
• Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant healthcare information to individuals, groups and/or the multidisciplinary team.
• Identify and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform evidence-based decision-making.
• Apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to routine and complex problems to optimise health outcomes.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection and personal autonomy.
• Establish and maintain inclusive, collaborative professional relationships.
• Display accountability for and sound professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts.

Fees and CSP

Estimated tuition fee in 2025: $2,314 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

The estimated tuition fee is calculated by adding four credit points of study together. Four credit points are used as they represent a typical enrolment load for a graduate certificate.

A student’s annual fee 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.