Deakin University
Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Advance your career as a registered nurse by developing specialist cardiac nursing knowledge and skills, enabling you to be an effective team member.
Course overview
As a registered nurse, Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing will equip you with the analytical, practical, communication and leadership skills needed to be a high-performing member of a multidisciplinary health team across various specialist cardiac settings.
As a Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing program student, you can expect to participate in various teaching and learning activities each week. You will attend online synchronous study days and complete asynchronous guided learning modules. Additional self-directed study commitments are also required to complete university and clinical assessment tasks.
Graduates are prepared to handle the contemporary challenges nurses may face in cardiac nursing and interventional cardiology. With a course that responds to industry trends and demands, you will learn how to make a difference through roles in areas such as practice, education, leadership and research.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing, students must attain four credit points of core units.
Core units
- Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
- Core Principles of Critical Care Nursing (2 credit points)
- Cardiac Nursing (2 credit points)
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.
- Evidence of secure, ongoing employment of at least 24 hours per week in a collaborating hospital within Australia, working in a relevant speciality practice area with appropriate clinical supervision.
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 that exceeds the course's standard entrance requirements 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 the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system, which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
The Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing will allow you to meet that demand in advanced practice, leadership, management and education across a range of settings, including:
- Acute Cardiac Units
- Cardiac Catheter Laboratories
- Coronary Care Units
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Cardiac Rehabilitation and Community Care
Learning outcomes
- 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 together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents 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.
