Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Cardiac Care)
Advance your career in heart health. Care for patients with heart diseases and conditions. You’ll gain specialist skills and knowledge to support patients needing cardiovascular care. Graduate and progress into more rewarding roles or continue your nursing studies.
About the Course
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 speciality practice, including person- and family-centred health promotion. Specific knowledge in the areas of bioscience, pharmacology, and lifespan development, relevant to your chosen speciality, will also be explored and applied to your clinical nursing practice.
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 speciality 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 speciality module.
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 (Intensive Care)
- Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Perioperative)
Visit ACU Postgraduate Programs for Nurses, for more information.
Course Entry Requirements
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.
If 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).
Course Structure
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 Clinical Nursing Units; and
- 2 subject from Specialisation units.
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Cardiac Care):
Specified Clinical Nursing Units
- NRSG524 Advanced Pathophysiology for Speciality Nursing Practice (10cp)
- NRSG525 Evidence-based, Person-centred Family Care in Speciality Nursing Practice (10cp)
Specialisation unts:
- NRSG538 Cardiac Care: Advanced Concepts in Speciality Coronary Care Setting (10cp)
- NRSG539 Cardiac Care: Principles in Nursing Speciality Practice (10cp)
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 ( Cardiac Care) should have:
- LO1: Demonstrate specialised clinical nursing knowledge and skills that are required in specialist clinical settings.
- LO2: Integrate principles of clinical decision making in relation to care planning, implementation, assessment and evaluation for effective care delivery within the specialty health care setting which reflects cultural safety practices and person centred care.
- LO3: Apply specialist evidence-based clinical knowledge and skills to analyse, generate, communicate and evaluate solutions to complex clinical issues within the specialty health care setting.
