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QUT (Queensland University of Technology)

  • 17% international / 83% domestic

Graduate Certificate in Nursing

  • Graduate Certificate

Develop your nursing skills and prepare for leadership roles within specialised nursing fields. Learn from expert nurse clinician academics in flexible learning environments.

Key details

Degree Type
Graduate Certificate
Duration
1 year part-time
Study Mode
Online, In person
Intake Months
Feb, Jul

About this course

Highlights

  • Complete in 2 semesters part-time.
  • Prepare for leadership roles with specialist level knowledge.
  • Specialise in: acute care nursing; cancer nursing; chronic health care nursing; emergency nursing; gastroenterology nursing; health professional education; intensive care nursing; paediatric, child and youth health nursing.
  • Articulates into the Master of Advanced Practice Nursing.
Highlights
  • Complete in 2 semesters part-time.
  • Prepare for leadership roles with specialist level knowledge.
  • Specialise in: acute care nursing; cancer nursing; chronic health care nursing; emergency nursing; gastroenterology nursing; health professional education; intensive care nursing; paediatric, child and youth health nursing.

Entry requirements

Entry requirement

Current registration as a Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Study locations

Kelvin Grove

External

Online

What you will learn

QUT's School of Nursing has an established reputation as a provider of postgraduate programs that recognise and respond to priorities in clinical nursing practice and prepare professionals for specialist and leadership positions.

In consultation with industry partners the school has recently reviewed its postgraduate programs to ensure continued alignment with industry's need for graduates who demonstrate nursing leadership and advanced practice skills. The comprehensive clinical content of the programs now also embraces the socio-political aspects of contemporary nursing practice.

Our programs offer students a supportive flexible learning environment that integrates online technologies and promotes a socially collaborative community.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing offers a short focused program of study for professionals looking to upgrade their qualifications. Students can opt to major in one study area or choose to complete a cross-specialisation by selecting units from a variety of study areas.

QUT's School of Nursing has an established reputation as a provider of postgraduate programs that recognise and respond to priorities in clinical nursing practice and prepare professionals for specialist and leadership positions.

In consultation with industry partners the school has reviewed its postgraduate programs to continue alignment with industry's need for graduates who demonstrate nursing leadership and advanced practice skills.

The comprehensive content emphasises clinical leadership in specialist nursing improvement in practice and service delivery and the socio-political aspects of contemporary nursing practice.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing offers a short focused program of study for professionals looking to upgrade their qualifications. You will opt to major in one study area or may choose to complete the program with no major and select electives from a wide list that includes

education healthy ageing research dementia and management in health.

Flexible delivery

Our programs offer students a supportive flexible learning environment that integrates online technologies and promotes a socially collaborative community.

This course is delivered in part-time mode. External students are supported with an extensive learning package of electronic resources.

Career pathways

Possible careers
  • Clinical nurse
  • Clinical nurse specialist
  • Domain specialist nurse
  • Nurse case manager
  • Specialist nurse

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate allows students to complete four core units from their selected area of nursing practice. The following study areas are offered:

  • acute care nursing
  • cancer nursing
  • emergency nursing
  • intensive care nursing
  • paediatric child and youth health nursing
  • chronic health care nursing
  • health professional education
  • gastroenterology nursing

Alternatively students may choose to select units from across the specialities or electives.

Acute Care Nursing

Students complete studies in advanced health assessment and nursing practice issues and trends in acute care nursing and critically analyse the advanced concepts that underpin this specialist area. Students will initiate plans of care to address common needs/problems experienced by acute patients.

You must be currently working at least 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent) in a setting where acutely ill patients are encountered. Examples include but are not limited to acute medical-surgical rehabilitation orthopaedic community and residential general practice renal and chronic care settings.

Cancer Nursing

Students develop competency in the practice of cancer nursing examine major issues and trends in cancer nursing scholarship and practice plan appropriate strategies/intervention for client care and develop an understanding of research applied to cancer nursing practice.

You must be currently working at least 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent) in a setting where care is delivered to cancer patients. Examples include medical and radiation oncology haematology medical-surgical community and aged care residential settings.

Emergency Nursing

Students explore the key issues trends and challenges in emergency nursing scholarship and develop an understanding of research applied to emergency nursing practice. Students develop skills in patient assessment planning and implementation of health care in the emergency area.

You must:

  • be currently working at least 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent) in an emergency setting
  • have a minimum of three months FTE (full-time equivalent) experience in an emergency setting.
Intensive Care Nursing

Students explore the theoretical conceptual and practical knowledge required to provide effective nursing care for diverse and complex critically ill patients in the intensive care unit an increasingly complex technological environment.

You must:

  • be currently working at least 0.5 FTE in a level II (two) or III (three) intensive care unit as defined by the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM) Minimum Standards for Intensive Care Units; or as accredited by the CICM for training in intensive care medicine
  • have a minimum of three months FTE (full-time equivalent) experience in an intensive care unit as defined above.
Paediatric Child and Youth Health Nursing

This program is designed for nurses working in acute or community settings to develop competency in the practice of paediatric nursing or child and youth health nursing. Students will examine major issues and trends in nursing scholarship and practice and develop an understanding of research in this area.

This study area requires you to undertake clinical practice in a paediatric child and youth health nursing setting. Examples include acute paediatric or community health settings. If you wish to focus on issues relating to acute child and family health you must be currently working at least 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent) in an acute paediatric setting.

Chronic health care nursing

This course draws on expertise from a number of health disciplines and meets the needs of nurses who want to gain specific skills for more advanced practice opportunities especially those working with patients who may have a range of chronic health conditions.

It also focuses on prevention and promotion of health to prevent or delay the onset of chronic health conditions.

Health Professional Education

Students critically examine contemporary educational theories and explore the principles of learning and teaching underpinning best practice.

This option has no additional professional experience requirements.

Gastroenterology nursing

Students develop advanced knowledge and skills in the practice of gastroenterology nursing. Students plan appropriate strategies and intervention for patient care and develop an understanding of research applied to gastroenterology nursing practice.

You must be currently working at least 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent) and have a minimum of three months FTE in a
setting where care is delivered to gastroenterology patients. Examples include gastroenterology wards or day clinics endoscopy units/clinic medical wards caring for gastroenterology patients. NO major option

Students complete two core units and choose two additional units from a list of electives covering more than one study area.

This option has no additional professional experience requirements.

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