Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing

Course overview

Studying the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing with ACN will provide you with the principles required to meet the diverse needs of individuals admitted to the acute care setting, in order to improve your knowledge and skills for the provision and coordination of evidenced based person-centred care. The aim is to encourage professional and ethical understanding of clinical practice development to maintain quality and provide safe healthcare.

The subjects in this course were written by specialist acute care nurses and a team of clinical experts, working within the specialty, provide student support. Our unique range of elective units of study allow students to further explore their area of interest related to medical and surgical nursing.

Understanding the nursing management of adults admitted to acute care settings with acute medical or surgical conditions is the focus of this course. Students analyse and apply their knowledge and problem-solving skills to clinical case scenarios based on commonly encountered acute care presentations. The units of study provide students with an opportunity to extend their ability to undertake increasingly complex nursing activities in a range of acute medical and surgical care settings.

Learning outcomes

At successful completion of the course students should be able to:

• demonstrate provision of competent interpersonal and clinical care to individuals through the acquisition, application and communication of specialist knowledge and skills which reflect professional and ethico-legal integrity

• identify, appraise and apply research evidence to inform nursing practice and develop professional responsibility and accountability commensurate with the specialist role

• critically evaluate available knowledge in relation to complex situations to guide the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of evidence based nursing care

• collaborate with the interdisciplinary team in provision of effective therapeutic relationships and continuity of care within the context of acute care nursing practice

• consider strategies when caring for a culturally and linguistically diverse population and reflect on the health care team’s ability to meet the nursing and communication needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

• create an effective clinical learning environment through demonstrating mentorship and the propagation of specialised knowledge and technical skill

• demonstrate leadership through participation in policy development, service provision and quality improvement within the specialist context.

Career outcomes

A Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing is an investment in your future and will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe and quality care and progress your career, leading to opportunities in clinical education, management and specialist nursing roles.

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing is a one year course, consisting of four 10-week terms.Students will need to complete 4 units – 3 core and 1 elective. One unit is studied per term. Approximate hours of study are 12 – 15 hours per week.