Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced specialist clinical nursing knowledge and skill and clinical leadership which is informed by evidence-based practice.
2. Synthesise and evaluate complex clinical information, problems, concepts and theories related to challenges within the specialty nursing care setting.
3. Differentiate the role of clinical leadership within the specialist clinical setting which demonstrates culturally safety practices and person centred care.
4. Apply advanced clinical judgement and decision-making to healthcare challenges within the specialty nursing care settings.

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

In the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Nursing, you will have the choice of a Project Stream, or a Research Stream.

The Research Stream offers students the opportunity to start developing foundational knowledge of concepts related to research. The Research Stream is ideal for those wanting to undertake future scholarly research that will contribute to healthcare knowledge and advance their academic or professional careers.

The Project Stream introduces students to theory-based leadership practices, developing knowledge and skills necessary for leading health service transformation. The Project Stream is suited for those seeking to enhance their leadership and problem-solving abilities while addressing key challenges in their professional healthcare setting.

ACU Online offers a generic Clinical Nursing course as well as the Graduate Diploma 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 Diploma 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. 

In the correctional health specialisation, the mental health of prisoners is comprehensively and extensively covered. Modules include the importance of physical health, healthcare management, and consequences of accelerated ageing of the prison population.

Older persons require a multi-faceted approach to care and the gerontological nursing specialisation will support you to undertake risk assessment, clinical decision-making and to implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure the delivery of quality and safe person-centred care to older persons.

The medical specialisation explores acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems with modules covering integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in an ageing population. Foci include common respiratory conditions, the significance of infection control and the implications of hospital acquired infections.

The renal specialisation explores acute renal conditions as well as living with renal disease and the role of the nurse in primary health care for people suffering chronic renal disease. You will explore the role of vascular access devices in the care of the person with Renal disease and infection control considerations, haemo and peritoneal dialysis.

The surgical specialisation explores acute and chronic health conditions that require surgical intervention. Modules include principles and management of nursing care across the pre-operative, post-operative and discharge, surgical care continuum. Content related to surgical comorbidities, common surgical procedures, surgical safety, risk assessment and the early recognition and timely escalation of deterioration to mitigate patient harm is extensively covered. The impact that pre-operative and post-operative complications have for surgical patient outcomes, and discharge planning, will also be detailed. 

The neuroscience specialisation explores acute and chronic neurological conditions and the role of the nurse in providing evidence-based family and person-centered nursing care in a neuroscience setting. You will explore critical care concepts, including integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics. You will be supported to develop knowledge and skills to critically appraise and evaluate evidence that ensure patients with acute and chronic and complex neuroscience conditions are delivered high quality and safe care.

In the cardiac care specialisation, you will explore critical care concepts through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus. Modules explore acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Rhythm interpretation and common dysrhythmias through normal 12 lead ECG and interpretation of abnormal findings are also embedded within the specialty modules. Other topics such as cardiomyopathy & cardiac valves, Implantable devices, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac rehabilitation and palliative care in cardiac nursing care are embedded in this specialty module.

In the intensive care specialisation you will undertake advanced exploration of critical care concepts, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and the significance of polypharmacy in critically ill patient. You will develop your understanding of pathophysiology related to ICU-specific pathologies and will strengthen your ability to analyse and evaluate the impact of disease processes, make ethical decisions that are person and family-centred, while providing evidence-based care.

The perioperative specialisation explores the operating theatre environment through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus. Modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management and surgical risk models

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include: 

• Advanced Pathophysiology for Specialty Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Ethics: Principles in Practice
• Quality and Safety in Health Care
• Evidence-based, Person-centred Family Care in Specialty Nursing Practice

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

a. For Project Stream:

i. 50 cp from Specified Clinical Nursing Units (Part A)

ii. 20 cp from Specialisation (Part B) OR 20 cp from Clinical Nursing Units (Part E)

iii. 10 cp from Project Stream Units (Part C)

OR

b. For Research Stream:

i. 50 cp from Specified Clinical Nursing Units (Part A)

ii. 20 cp from Specialisation (Part B) OR 20 cp from Clinical Nursing Units (Part E)

iii. 10 cp from Research Stream Units (Part D)

Exit points

A student who has completed the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing may exit with the relevant award.

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

Indicative total fee $6,756

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.

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

33

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

27

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma 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.

If you have already studied at university level or have significant relevant work experience, you can apply for credit towards your ACU course. Credited units replace units you would otherwise study, so you can finish your course earlier.