Deakin University
Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Acquire advanced specialist skills necessary to assess patients and prepare for a senior role in the diverse and challenging field of emergency care.
Course overview
Nurses working in emergency departments are presented with the most varied, complex and often critically ill patients. The advanced specialist skills required to assess and prioritise patients presenting to emergency departments are in demand now more than ever in one of the highest-growth areas of the health sector. Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing prepares you to meet that demand.
Ranked #15th in the world, the School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of the largest and best in Australia. By studying for your Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing at Deakin, you will be guided through industry-informed coursework by experts in emergency care nursing and have access to the School’s extensive, cutting-edge research, which is recognised as well above world standard#.
If you want to take the next step in your nursing career, Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing will prepare you to practise effectively at an advanced practice level in emergency care settings. As a graduate, you will demonstrate ethical, safe, high-quality, expert clinical decision-making abilities within an interdisciplinary team and psychomotor skills commensurate with specialised theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care.
As a student of Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing you will be challenged to advance your professional judgement by exploring the current and emerging trends, concepts, knowledge and evidence that provides the policy and practice framework around speciality emergency care.
Second-year elective units allow you to pursue your specific areas of interest and career goals. You can choose from complementary areas of practice to your specialisation or undertake studies that prepare you for roles in education, leadership, or management. You will also have the opportunity to select a unit from anywhere across the university, further expanding your skill set.
Deakin’s strong industry connections ensure a high level of collaboration and support during your clinical practice. This means that while you study, you can immerse yourself in your specialty medical practice area with one of numerous metropolitan, rural and regional health partners across Australia.
The innovative online program delivers a rich, interactive and empowering learning experience designed for postgraduate nurses. Live-streaming seminars and class discussions will encourage critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills. Australia’s top-rated tech support and access to expert teaching staff means you can learn at your own pace, when and where it suits you, without compromising quality or support.
This course will enable you to:
- Assess, prioritise and manage ill and injured patients of all ages.
- Cover the principles and concepts of patient assessment, triage and risk assessment and management in a complex and dynamic practice setting.
- Practise critical thinking and reflection regarding current health environment issues and specialty nursing practice.
- Assess and manage the care of specific patient groups: paediatrics, major and minor trauma, mental health gynaecological, obstetric, oncology and older persons.
- Develop greater decision-making autonomy, critical thinking and leadership skills, advanced clinical judgement and professional behaviours required for safe patient care, effective teamwork and career advancement.
You will be challenged to become a leader in evidence-based practice and a change agent to improve the quality of nursing care and patient outcomes in emergency departments.
Graduates are prepared to handle the contemporary challenges emergency nurses may face with a course that responds to industry trends, demands and professional bodies' expectations. 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
You must pass eight credit points to complete the Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
An 8-credit-point Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period.
- Six credit points of core units.
- One credit point, of course, is for elective units.
- One credit point of level 7 open elective units.
Year 1 - Semester 1
- Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
- Core Principles of Critical Care Nursing
Year 1 - Semester 2
- Emergency Nursing
Year 2 - Trimester 1
- Inquiry Into Specialty Nursing Practice
Plus 1 credit point of postgraduate electives from anywhere across the University or two Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
Year 2 - Trimester 2
- Advanced Concepts in Specialty Nursing Practice
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. You must meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Please note that this course has limited places and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. If all places are filled, applications for this course may close prior to the published closing date.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree, you will need to meet all the following criteria:
- Registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) 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) in each component of the test
- Other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Non-academic requirements
As the specialisation pathways courses are offered collaboratively between the University and a range of partnership/collaborating hospitals, student selection into the course is a joint process. Students must independently apply for and seek permanent employment within a collaborating hospital to support and provide a sound clinical learning environment for the clinical program requirements of the course.
Applicants are required to complete an Applicant Declaration form to be uploaded with their application.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have completed previous studies that may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You must provide a certified copy of your previous course details to determine your credit. If you are eligible, your offer letter will be filled out with information about your Recognition of prior learning.
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.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
With job growth of 12.2% projected for registered nurses and 12.1% for nurse managers by 2028,* there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. Our Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing allows you to meet that demand in various roles across advanced practice, leadership, management and education in regional, rural or metropolitan emergency departments.
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced clinical practice commensurate with emergency care nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care.
- I'd like you to show that you have advanced communication skills to ensure the delivery of high-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, analyse and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision-making in the emergency care setting.
- Apply advanced nursing knowledge to 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.
- Demonstrate accountability for and sound professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts.
Fees and CSP
Indicative first-year tuition fee in 2025: $4,627 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
The indicative first-year fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year, depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or full-fee paying (FFP) place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- 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. 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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
