Graduate Certificate in Nursing

Avondale offers a Graduate Certificate in Nursing with qualifications in either Clinical Nursing, Clinical Teaching or Leadership and Management.

Major areas of study include:

• Nursing research and evidence-based perspectives of practice
• Lifestyle disease
• Health promotion
• Holistic assessment and caring
• Counselling
• Clinical teaching
• Leadership and management approaches

This course is designed to extend and deepen a registered nurse’s knowledge, skills and appreciation of advanced practice that takes into consideration professional, legal and ethical requirements.

This is done through in-depth study of current health care issues, nursing research and evidence based perspectives of practice, clinical teaching, leadership and management approaches, lifestyle disease and health promotion, counselling, holistic assessment, advanced therapeutic interventions and evaluation. The ability to function both autonomously and collaboratively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team is an essential element of this course.

Although units are offered via distance education, you can also receive on-campus support. 

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing, graduates will be able to:

• articulate the nexus between theory, contemporary practice and research and its application to nursing;
• utilise critical reflection for self-improvement and improvement in the quality of client care;
• apply, synthesise and evaluate advanced nursing knowledge within the context of complex health care environments;
• demonstrate leadership skills and advanced problem solving approaches within the collaborative multidisciplinary health team, taking into consideration contemporary culturallydiverse health care contexts;
• demonstrate the effective use of high level communication including evolving technologies to disseminate knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences across local, regional and global contexts;
• produce scholarly work from an inquiry-based approach that that reflects advanced understanding and the capacity to apply knowledge to practice;
• apply advanced knowledge to contemporary nursing practice utilising autonomous, holistic and creative approaches, taking into consideration professional standards and culturally diverse contexts;
• reflect on the delivery of quality service in a professional context to ensure promotion of safe ethical practice, that displays integrity, justice, dignity, and respect for others.

With a postgraduate qualification in nursing, graduate nurses can apply professional interests, nursing knowledge and clinical skills to lead and shape the future of health care. Graduates leave equipped to work in a variety of roles in hospital and community clinical practice, leadership and management, research and clinical teaching.

GENERAL ADMISSION CRITERIA

To qualify for admission, you must have completed:

• An Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 7 bachelor of nursing, bachelor of health science (in nursing), or equivalent from an accredited university or higher education provider; or
• An overseas nursing qualification comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 7 or higher

SPECIFIC ADMISSION CRITERIA

The following are the specific criteria for admission:

• Current AHPRA authorisation to practice as a Registered Nurse; or
• Authority to practice as a Registered Nurse in your own country; and
• A minimum of one-year post-registration experience within the last five years

If you plan to study Clinical Teaching or Clinical Nursing specialties, you must be employed as a Registered Nurse in the clinical setting.

ADVANCED STANDING

Applicants with an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 8 qualification (or higher) in a cognate area may be eligible for advanced standing (credit recognition). Refer to the Advanced Standing Policy for more information.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants must meet the Australian Government's visa requirements to reside in Australia while studying at Avondale University.

For more information, visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder/study

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the following ways:

• Provide documentary evidence that your initial nursing qualification was conducted and assessed in English.
• Provide documentary evidence of at least two years of tertiary study conducted and assessed in English in a recognised country^ and completed within the last two years.
• Demonstrate English language proficiency by achieving a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall with no sub-band below 7.0

^Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or the United States of America

WORKING AS A NURSE IN NSW

You can apply for temporary nurse registration from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) if you wish to undertake supernumerary nursing practice in NSW.

For more information, visit http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

Course duration: Six months full-time (or one year part-time).  Must be completed within 3 years. Currently this course is being offered on a part time basis only.
Study mode: Distance education
Maximum time to complete: Three years

Students have three course options:

Graduate Certificate in Nursing with a specialisation in Clinical Teaching

Graduate Certificate in Nursing with a specialisation in Clinical Nursing

Graduate Certificate in Nursing with a specialisation in  Leadership and Management

Variation in structure is subject to approval by the Academic Board.

Clinical Teaching specialisation

The clinical teaching specialisation is made up of 2 core units and 2 specialty units, which the students are required to complete.

Core Units

• NUEB50800 Evidence-Based Practice
• NUHS50101 Spirituality and Health

Specialty

• #NUCT58600 Clinical Teaching
• #NUCT50400 Developing Practice in Clinical Teaching

#Student is responsible for undertaking 120 hours of practical experience in this unit.

The Course Convenor may substitute core and specialty units with other units in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing unit options.

Clinical Nursing  specialisation

The clinical nursing specialisation is made up of 2 core units and 2 specialty units which the students are required to complete.

Core Units

• NUEB50800 Evidence-Based Practice
• NUHS50101 Spirituality and Health

Specialty

• NUHC55400 Holistic Assessment and Caring
• NURS56000 Promoting Health

The Course Convenor may substitute core and specialty units with other units in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing unit options.

Leadership and Management  specialisation

The Leadership and Management specialisation is made up of 2 core units and 2 specialty units that the students are required to complete.

Core Units

• NUEB50800 Evidence-Based Practice
• NUHS50101 Spirituality and Health

Specialty

• LAMC51600 Organisational Processes and Change
• LAMC51100  Leadership and Organisation

The Course Convenor may substitute core and specialty units with other units in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing unit options.

To find out more about any of the units listed here, copy the unit code and then search for that unit here.

Students are required to be employed as a Registered Nurse in the clinical area for the GCertNurs (Clinical Nursing) and GCertNurs (Clinical Teaching).

Students are required to undertake 120 hours of experience in the units NUCT58600 Clinical Teaching and NUCT50500 Developing Practice in Clinical Teaching. Students must be able to work in a role that includes clinical education (e.g. facilitator to students, new staff, new graduate nurses or trainee/enrolled nurses).

This course is accredited under Avondale's self-accrediting authority and
it is nationally registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

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Course Enquiries

Student Administration Services

Phone: +61 2 4980 2377
Email: [email protected]
Monday-Thursday, 9.00am-5pm
Friday, 9.00am-12.00noon