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.

DIRECT ENTRY

DOMESTIC STUDENTS

• hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing degree (or equivalent qualification*);
• current authorisation to practice as a Registered Nurse (with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency-Nursing and Midwifery);)
• have a minimum of one year post-registration experience within the last 5 years;
  be employed as a Registered Nurse in the clinical setting for Clinical Teaching and Clinical Nursing specialties.

*Equivalent qualification includes a Bachelor of Health Science (in Nursing) or an overseas qualification as identified as equivalent to a Bachelor of Nursing qualification in Australia by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment

Working as a Nurse in NSW

Special application for temporary nurse registration may be sought from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) if an applicant wishes to undertake supernumerary nursing practice in NSW. Further information can be found on the NMBA website http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

• hold an overseas qualification as identified as equivalent to a Bachelor of Nursing qualification (AQF Level 7 or equivalent) in Australia
• current authorisation to practice as a Registered Nurse in your own country;
• have a minimum of one year post-registration experience within the last 5 years;
• be employed as a Registered Nurse in the clinical setting for Clinical Teaching and Clinical Nursing specialties.

English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English to the satisfaction in one of the following two ways:

• provide documentary evidence that initial nursing education was conducted in the English language.
• successful completion of at least two years of tertiary study conducted in the English language in Australia, or in another country where English is the official language, within the last two years.

International applicants may also be required to undertake an English language test (Academic IELTS). Applicants must score an overall score of 7.0 or more, with a minimum of 7.0 in each separate band.

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