Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is an innovative course designed for those who want to develop their knowledge, confidence, and nursing competence in the clinical setting. The course is a discipline-based degree with two core units covering Patient Deterioration and Clinical Governance, and two further units from your chosen major. Majors available include Generalist, or Gerontology.

You'll gain advanced nursing knowledge and skills based upon contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning registered nurse, and you'll apply these in your own clinical setting. The combination of online delivery with group discussions, use of current international and national research, and review of standards of care in the clinical settings, will enhance learning and development of key clinical skills required in professional practice. You will have the opportunity to enhance your professional nursing attributes including autonomy, accountability and critical reflection.

Upon completion, you can articulate into our Master of Clinical Nursing

Admission pathways

There are two application pathways for entry to this course. Upon application, you will be required to identify which pathway you are applying for.

Pathway 1 (Graduate Program with Recognised Health Services)

Applicants who are enrolled in a partnered graduate program at one of the following Health Services, will be eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway 1. Under this pathway, you may be eligible to receive credit for two units - NURS20171 and NURS20172. Students entering via Pathway 1 will be eligible to receive a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).

• Cairns and Hinterland and Hospital and Health Services (CHHHS)
• Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services (CQHHS)
• Far West Local Health District (FWLHD), New South Wales
• Mackay Hospital and Health Services (MHHS)
• Mater Townsville
• Metro South Hospital and Health Services (MSHHS)
• Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (WBHHS)
• North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS)
• South West Hospital and Health Services (SWHHS)
• Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS)
• Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN), South Australia

You will be required to submit the following with your application:

1. AHPRA registration number
2. Letter of support from your Health Service demonstrating you are currently employed with an approved clinical partner (as listed above) for new graduates.

Pathway 2

If you are not currently enrolled in a partnered graduate program, you will need to apply via Pathway 2. This pathway requires you to have arranged access to work a minimum of 16 hours per week in a clinical setting with a Health Service. Students who receive an offer to study the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway 2 will be offered a full fee paying place. You may be eligible to study via Pathway 2 in a Commonwealth Support Place (CSP) under the Government's Job Ready funding.

You will be required to submit the following with your application: 

• AHPRA registration number
• Letter of support from your Health Service that must detail your current employment as a Registered Nurse, a detail a minimum of 16 hours per week is worked in a clinical setting and what area/setting currently worked in. Please ensure the letter is on Health Service letterhead with a printed name, signature and contact details for verification if required.