What you will learn

The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical frameworks and practical, evidence-based research skills that are required for nurses to work in critical care environments.

This course focuses on developing critical care nursing knowledge in clinical practice, empowering students with the skills to care for patients with complex medical needs.

As a student of this course, you will:

Explore core pathophysiological concepts and scientific principles

Students will gain valuable practical experience in pathology and understand more about the causes, mechanisms, and effects of a range of diseases. You'll explore patient care in pathology, learn to conduct diagnostic testing, analyse and explain assessment data, and confidently use cutting-edge technologies that detect, diagnose, and treat disease.

Develop your understanding of intervention, assessment, and patient management strategies

Students will learn key nursing interventions in critical care and gain essential knowledge of advanced life support techniques. You'll also enhance your understanding of important principles related to patient assessment and care management to effectively monitor, evaluate, and care for patients and their families.

Be guided to confidently put theory into practice

You'll be guided by clinical experts throughout your training, giving you the confidence and know-how to incorporate both research-backed theory and high-level practical skills when delivering critical care in a clinical environment.

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing, you will be able to:

• Apply advanced knowledge of the scientific and research-based evidence that underpins critical care nursing with the competency standards for specialist critical care nurses
• Assess, review and analyse patient health data to identify and explain the rationale for solutions to complex problems in critical care
• Employ effective specialised technical skills in the delivery of specialist critical care
• Communicate effectively with other members of the interprofessional healthcare team and people who are acutely or critically ill to facilitate effective individualised plans for care
• Apply skills to critically appraise critical care nursing practice and integrate relevant research evidence into effective individualised plans for people who are acutely and critically ill
• Apply knowledge of human pathophysiology across the continuum of care to safely and effectively provide critical care that addresses actual and potential disease and treatment-related health needs
• Plan and deliver specialist critical care that meets the specific supportive care needs and experiences of people affected by acute illness or trauma
• Initiate, plan, implement and evaluate an individualised, patient-centred, coordinated care plan in collaboration with the interprofessional healthcare team

Course Structure

The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing is a 50 credit-point clinical coursework program designed to be undertaken part-time over 12 months, delivered in a mixed-mode and through work-integrated learning in supervised clinical practice at your employing hospital.

You must complete two compulsory subjects and two subjects in a specialisation.

Students will commence the course with a pre-requisite subject:

Applied Pathophysiology [Mode - Online; Credit Points - 12.5 points]

On successful completion of Applied Pathophysiology, students will undertake:

Foundations of Critical Care Nursing [Mode - Online; Credit Points - 12.5 points]

Students will then pick one of the following specialisations:

Intensive Care

Intensive Care Nursing [Mode - Online; Credit Points - 12.5 points]

Intensive Care Nursing Practice [Mode - Off-Campus - Credit Points - 12.5 points]

Or,

Integrated Critical Care

Critical Care Nursing [Mode - Online; Credit Points - 12.5 points]

Critical Care Nursing Practice [Mode - Off-campus; Credit Points - 12.5 points]

Workload

The estimated hours required for each subject is between 15-19 hours per week. This varies for each student, depending on your task management and planning, familiarity with the material, reading style and speed.