Australian College of Nursing (ACN)
Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing
Graduate Certificate
Key details
About this course
The course is designed to meet the educational needs of clinicians working in the diverse perioperative environment. Speciality elective units of study are aligned with the main perioperative clinical roles; instrument/circulating, anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic care unit nursing. The core unit of study explores issues relating to professional practice, legal and ethical elements of care and maintaining a safe perioperative environment. Participants can choose from a range of elective units to investigate topics including pain across the lifespan, infection prevention and control and applied clinical physiology.
Please note that this course is only available to registered nurses currently employed within a perioperative setting.
Entry requirements
Admission to GC courses is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN's general eligibility criteria.
All applicants seeking admission are required to:
- hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse* equivalent qualification
- hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
- meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) - please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard
- have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience; and
- be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation*
- Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health
- Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing
- Graduate Certificate in Dermatology Nursing
Study locations
Online
What you will learn
On completion of the course students will be able to:
- formulate an advanced knowledge base to promote the safe provision and coordination of evidence-based care within the perioperative environment
- apply critical thinking to the assessment process, linking specialist theory to holistic nursing practice
- critically analyse current literature and nursing practice to provide evidence based contemporary care for persons in the perioperative environment
- model the skills and abilities that provide a foundation for future leadership roles, including reflective practice, knowledge sharing and a commitment to life-long learning
- develop advanced communication skills to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with people receiving care, their significant others and members of the multidisciplinary team
- critically reflect on the role of personal values and ethics as central to the development of culturally safe practice in perioperative nursing
Career pathways
A Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing is an investment in your future and will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure better outcomes for your patients and progress your career, leading to opportunities in clinical education, management and specialist nursing roles.
Course structure
The Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing is a one year course, consisting of four 10-week terms.
Students will need to complete 4 units - 1 core, 1 specialty and 2 electives. One unit is studied per term.
Approximate hours of study are 12 - 15 hours per week.
For more details please visit the course website.
Graduate outcomes
Related opportunities
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