Graduate Certificate
Care of newborn babies and neonates with complex medical and surgical conditions requires a multidisciplinary team with expert knowledge and skills specific to this vulnerable group of patients.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice- Neonatal Intensive Care is designed to equip neonatal nurses with advanced skills and knowledge to provide evidence-based care for sick neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
You will learn about neonatal conditions associated with preterm birth, congenital anomalies, respiratory diseases, birth trauma, peripartum hypoxia, brain injury, and metabolic disorders. You will explore family centered care and neonatal developmental care in the NICU environment. You will learn about end of life and palliative care and study the impact of life-threatening illnesses on parents and families.
Be guided to put theory into practice
This course is designed to be undertaken part time, to suit the needs of currently practising Registered Nurses. As part of our work-integrated learning (WIL) model, you will undertake online study and face-to-face classes, as well as receive guided supervision at your employing hospital. This model is designed to maximise your learning, clinically and theoretically, and enable you to confidently apply your knowledge to practice.
On completion, you will have the clinical knowledge and skills to practice neonatal nursing at a competent level as benchmarked against Australian specialty practice competencies.
Course aims
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Neonatal Intensive Care) is designed to promote an understanding of the theoretical aspects of neonatal nursing to support competent practice in caring for neonatal patients.
What you will learn
As a student of this course, you will:
Examine core pathophysiological concepts Explore the underlying pathophysiology of neonatal diseases and develop knowledge and skills required to prioritise care of the neonate in the neonatal intensive care environment.
Understand key theory and medical requirements Broaden your knowledge and theory of neonatal care and learn how to assess and manage specific conditions. Develop specialist knowledge in neonatal respiratory diseases, congenital anomalies, neonatal brain injury, common metabolic conditions, conditions unique to the very preterm infant, nutritional requirements and principles of growth and development.
Be guided to confidently apply theory to practice You will receive supervised training and be able to undertake an accurate assessment of neonatal patients by combining your understanding of core theory with your technical skills.
Course structure The Graduate Certificate of Nursing Practice (Neonatal Intensive Care) is a 50-point program designed to be undertaken part time over 12 months, including supervised clinical practice at your employing hospital. You must complete:
Download course flyer
Who the course is for Admission is based on a Bachelor of Nursing degree (or equivalent training) or Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery (double degree), at least one year of clinical experience in an acute care setting within the five years prior to applying for the course, and current employment and clinical support in a tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Applicants must be registered nurses and have the support of their employing hospital for the Nursing Practice subject (Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Practice), and the employing hospital must be equipped to support you to complete their studies.
International nurses with a working visa who meet the course entry requirements are also eligible to apply.
Career outcomes On completion, you should have the clinical knowledge and skills to practice neonatal intensive care nursing at a competent level as benchmarked against Australian specialty practice competencies.
Further study Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice will meet the entry requirements for the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice.
To be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice you must be nominated by your hospital to support you to undertake the clinical component of the course. Speak with your Education Manager or Clinical Nurse Educator to confirm that your hospital is willing to support your course enrolment.
For more information and clarification about this process, contact our Student Support team via the enquiry form below.