Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing aims to enhance the practice of health care professionals by expanding the breadth and depth of their knowledge and skills. 

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing should have:

1. LO1: Demonstrate specialised clinical nursing knowledge and skills that are required in specialist clinical settings.
2. LO2: Integrate principles of clinical decision making in relation to care planning, implementation, assessment and evaluation for effective care delivery within the speciality health care setting which reflects cultural safety practices and person centred care.
3. LO3: Apply specialist evidence-based clinical knowledge and skills to analyse, generate, communicate and evaluate solutions to complex clinical issues within the speciality health care setting.

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is designed to expand your knowledge and skills in clinical nursing and practice.

ACU Online offers a generic Clinical Nursing course as well as the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing with nine specialisations: correctional health, gerontological nursing, medical, renal, surgical, neuroscience, cardiac care, intensive care and perioperative. By undertaking a specialisation, you will develop your holistic care skills in specialty practice, including person- and family-centred health promotion. Specific knowledge in the areas of bioscience, pharmacology, and lifespan development, relevant to your chosen specialty, will also be explored and applied to your clinical nursing practice.

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (without a specialisation) focuses on developing your skills and knowledge as a registered nurse enabling you to effectively work across a diverse range of clinical settings. You will learn how to critically analyse and evaluate complex clinical presentations and apply your newly-acquired knowledge to effectively assess and problem solve in any health care environment. Modules within this specialisation cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management.

This course also offers specialisations in the following areas:

• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Correctional Health)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Gerontological Nursing)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Medical)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Renal)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Surgical)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Neuroscience)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Cardiac Care)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Intensive Care)
• Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Perioperative).

Visit ACU Postgraduate Programs for Nurses, for more information.

Recommended study pattern

Students are required to follow the pattern of subject enrolment set out in the relevant Course Enrolment Guide, unless otherwise approved by the Course Coordinator. In all aspects of progress through the course, students will be advised by the Course Coordinator.

To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 4 subjects from Schedule of Unit Offerings comprising of:

• 2 subjects from Specified Units; and
• 2 subject from Clinical Nursing units.

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing:

Specified Units

• NRSG524 Advanced Pathophysiology for Specialty Nursing Practice (10cp)
• NRSG525 Evdence-based, Person-centred Family Care in Specialty Nursing Practice (10cp)

Clinical Nursing units:

• NRSG544 Clinical Nursing: Advanced Concepts in Acute and Chronic Care Settings (10cp)
• NRSG545 Clinical Nursing: Principles in Nursing Speciality Practice (10cp)
• NRSG526 Correctional Health: Mental Health Care (10cp)
• NRSG527 Correctional Health: Chronic Illness (10cp)
• NRSG528 Gerontological Nursing: Promoting Health and Wellness in Older Persons (10cp)
• NRSG529 Gerontological Nursing: Comprehensive Care for Older Persons (10cp)
• NRSG530 Medical: Chronic Health, Frailty and Harm Minimisation (10cp)
• NRSG531 Medical: Person-centred Care for Medical Patients with Complex Conditions (10cp)
• NRSG532 Surgical: Comprehensive Care for Surgical Patients (10cp)
• NRSG533 Surgical: Advanced and Complex Surgical Nursing (10cp)
• NRSG534 Renal: Complexities in Renal Care (10cp)
• NRSG535 Renal: Advanced Renal Care (10cp)
• NRSG536 Neuroscience: Principles of Care (10cp)
• NRSG537 Neuroscience: Complexities and Challenges in Management (10cp)
• NRSG538 Cardiac Care: Advanced Concepts in Speciality Coronary Care Setting (10cp)
• NRSG539 Cardiac Care: Principles in Nursing Specialty Practice (10cp)
• NRSG540 Perioperative: Comprehensive Management of the Patient in Surgery (10cp)
• NRSG541 Perioperative: Principles in Nursing Specialty Practice (10cp)
• NRSG542 Intensive Care: Advanced Concepts in Speciality Critical Care Setting (10cp)
• NRSG543 Intensive Care: Principles in Nursing Specialty Practice (10cp).

Award requirements

To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 4 subjects from Schedule of Unit Offerings.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $4,768

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

35

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

26

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing, an applicant must:

a) have completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent;

AND

b) hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International Students must also comply with English Language Proficiency requirements as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

• International English Language Testing System - Academic (IELTS): Overall score: 6.5 with an individual score of 6.0 in all tests
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 58 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills
• Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic (TOEFL): Internet based total of 79 with a minimum of 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening
• ACU English Language Test: B (65-74%)
• Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): Overall CAE of 176 with a minimum individual score of 169 in all test areas.

Recognition of Prior LearningIf your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner. Speak to your course consultant for more information or to discuss your eligibility. ACU will consider requests for advanced standing based on prior studies to a maximum equivalence of 2 subjects (20cp).