Graduate Certificate in Nursing

• 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.

To qualify for admission, an applicant must have completed:

• an Australian Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Health Science (in Nursing), or equivalent as approved by the Course Convenor; or
• an overseas nursing qualification comparable to an Australian Bachelor of Nursing or higher.

In exceptional circumstances an applicant may be admitted based on qualifications deemed equivalent as assessed by the Course Convenor in consultation with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

In addition, applicants must have:

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

Applicants who plan to study the Clinical Teaching or the Clinical Nursing specialty must be employed as a Registered Nurse in a clinical setting.

International Students

This course is available online to international students residing outside Australia. The course is not available to international students residing in Australia.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency through one of the following:

1. achieving a minimum overall IELTS score of 7.0, with no sub-band below 7.0, or
2. one of the other ways outlined in Appendix 2 of the Admission Policy (HE), or
3. providing documentary evidence that their initial nursing qualification (or at least two years of tertiary study) was conducted and assessed in English in a recognised country^ and completed within the last two years.

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

Advanced Standing

Applicants who have completed prior study may be eligible for advanced standing (credit recognition). Applicants should discuss their eligibility for advanced standing with the Admissions Team or the Course Convenor.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing consists of four units and requires 24 credit points for completion. Each specialisation is made up of two core units and two specialty units, which the students must complete. All units are worth six credit points unless otherwise specified.

Students have three specialisation options:

1. Clinical Teaching
2. Clinical Nursing
3. Leadership and Management

Core Units

• NUEB50800 Evidence-Based Practice
• NUHS50101 Spirituality and Health

Clinical Teaching Specialisation Units:

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

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

Clinical Nursing Specialisation Units:

• NUHC55400 Holistic Assessment and Caring
• NURS56000 Promoting Health

Leadership and Management Specialisation Units:

• 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.

When enrolled in the GCertNurs (Clinical Teaching), students must be concurrently working as a Registered Nurse in a clinical area and are required to undertake 120 hours of experience, whilst enrolled in the units NUCT58600 Clinical Teaching and NUCT50400 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).

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