Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Nursing

Cardiovascular diseases cause 27% of deaths in Australia.* As a registered nurse, Deakin's Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Nursing will equip you with the analytical, practical, communication and leadership skills needed to perform a senior role in a multidisciplinary health team across a range of specialist cardiac settings.

Study with one of Australia's largest and most established nursing schools, ranked #16 in the world for nursing courses.^ Your learning will be informed by the latest trends in cardiac nursing practice and cutting-edge research, which is recognised as well above world standard.# Our strong industry connections mean you will be guided by experts in cardiac care nursing as you explore the current and emerging trends, concepts, knowledge and evidence that provides the policy and practice framework around cardiac nursing and interventional cardiology.

Are you ready for a senior position in cardiac care?

If you want to take the next step in your nursing career, our Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Nursing will prepare you to become a leader and practise effectively at an advanced practice level in cardiac 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 Cardiac 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 cardiac nursing and interventional cardiology.

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 preparing 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 practice area with one of our numerous metropolitan, rural and regional health partners across Australia.

Our 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 our expert teaching staff means you can learn at your own pace, when and where it suits you, without compromising quality or support.

This course enables you to:

• evaluate and intervene in response to complex data from patient and technologically-derived sources
• develop an advanced understanding of normal physiology, and the pathophysiology of illness and injury of critically ill patients
• perform focused, systematic and methodical patient assessments
• demonstrate advanced clinical judgement leading to autonomous decision-making
• assess and manage patients with a variety of complex cardiovascular conditions
• understand the risk management and quality nursing care required for cardiac patients undergoing interventional procedures
• explore advanced interventional treatment modalities
• combine advanced communication skills with professional knowledge to promote safe, high-quality care of patients across a range of specialist cardiac settings.

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 across a range of specialist cardiac settings.

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 senior roles in areas such as practice, education, leadership and research.

* Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care.
^ 2023 ShanghaiRankings Ranking of Academic Subjects.
# Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018.

With job growth of 12.2% projected for registered nurses by 2028,** there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. Our Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Nursing will allow you to meet that demand in a senior role in advanced practice, leadership, management and education across a range of settings including:

• acute cardiac units
• cardiac rehabilitation and community care
• cardiac catheter laboratories
• coronary care units
• clinical nurse educator.

** Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections

The core cardiac nursing specialisation units are completed in year one of the course and are semester-based delivery.

Both the theoretical and clinical components of the assessment for each unit must be passed in order to successfully gain an overall pass in this course. Compulsory clinical hurdles form part of the assessment of this course.

Note: Failure of a compulsory clinical component in a unit will normally lead to exclusion.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.