Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing

What you will study

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing, students must attain four credit points.

Core units (one credit point each)

• Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit point)
• Core Principles of Perianaesthesia Nursing Care
• Core Principles of Intraoperative Nursing Care
• Principles of Complex Perianaesthesia Nursing Care
• Principles of Complex Intraoperative Nursing Care

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 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

The Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing will allow you to meet that demand in a variety of roles across advanced practice, leadership and management, including:

• Anaesthetic Nurse
• Circulating Nurse
• Instrument Nurse
• Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurse
• Pre-Admission and Day Surgery Nurses

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate safe psychomotor skills and clinical practice commensurate with emergency nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care.
• Demonstrate communication skills to develop and implement plans of care to ensure the delivery of quality, safe nursing care to patients in the emergency care setting.
• Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant emergency care information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team.
• Identify and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision-making in the emergency care setting.
• Apply specialised nursing knowledge and skills to routine and complex problems in the emergency care setting to optimise patient outcomes.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection and personal autonomy as an emergency nurse.
• Establish and maintain inclusive, collaborative professional relationships with all multidisciplinary team members.
• Display accountability for and sound professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical practice principles 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 by:

• The number of units studied per term.
• The choice of significant or specialisation.
• Choice of units.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Could you 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 only need to pay some of your tuition fees. The student contribution amount is 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.