Graduate Certificate
This course is designed to equip paediatric nurses with knowledge and advanced skills to provide evidence-based care of infants, children, young people, and their families, in a paediatric setting.
You will gain a sound understanding of the scientific knowledge and research-based evidence that underpins paediatric nursing. You will apply this knowledge to clinical practice, using a child and family-centred approach.
The course is designed to be taken part-time, normally over twelve months, with a guided clinical practice component at your employing hospital.
On completion of this course, you will have the clinical competence to practise paediatric nursing as benchmarked against the Australian Standards of Practice for Children and Young People's Nurses.
Course aims
This course is designed to promote an understanding of the theoretical aspects of paediatric nursing to support safe practice in the caring of paediatric patients.
What you will learn
As a student of this course, you will:
Examine core pathophysiological concepts Explore the underlying pathophysiology of paediatric diseases and develop knowledge and skills required to prioritise care of paediatric patients.
Extend your knowledge of patient assessment and management Broaden your knowledge and theory of paediatrics and learn how to assess infants, children and adolescents. Develop specialist knowledge in the principles of growth and development, nutritional requirements, fluid and electrolyte management, paediatric respiratory illnesses, and other common paediatric conditions including management of paediatric surgical patients.
Apply your new knowledge in the clinical setting You will receive supervised training in your employing hospital, undertake accurate assessment of paediatric patients, and provide age and developmentally appropriate nursing care, demonstrating that you can integrate theoretical knowledge with technical skill.
Course structure The Graduate Certificate of Nursing Practice (Paediatrics) 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:
Workload On average, it is estimated that students will be required to allocate 15-19 hours per week for 'study' time for each subject. However, the time commitment required can vary based on individual task management and planning skills, familiarity with the material, reading style and speed.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Paediatrics) is designed for currently practising registered nurses. You must have the support of your employing hospital for the clinical practice subject (Paediatrics Nursing Practice), and the employing hospital must be equipped to support you to complete your studies. International nurses with a working visa who meet the course entry requirements are also eligible to apply.
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.