Studying the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing will provide you with the principles required to meet the diverse needs of individuals admitted to the acute care setting. The course aims to improve your knowledge and skills for providing and coordinating evidence-based person-centred care. It will also encourage professional and ethical understanding of clinical practice development to maintain quality and provide safe healthcare.

The units in this course were written by specialist acute care nurses and a team of clinical experts. Our unique range of elective units of study allows students to explore their areas of interest related to medical and surgical nursing further.

Understanding the nursing management of adults admitted to acute care settings 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 allow students to extend their ability to undertake increasingly complex nursing activities in a range of acute care settings.

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

It is known that the last decade has seen a change in the environment in which care of the acutely unwell patient is delivered (Dutton & Finch, 2018). Nurses working in acute care areas are increasingly exposed to patients who require more detailed assessment and monitoring. Nurses need to be competent in the skills required to care effectively for critically ill patients (Dutton & Finch, 2018).

As healthcare needs become more complex the role of the acute care nurse has become more diverse thus the need for more specialised post-graduate education.

Our course is written by specialist nurses, for nurses and students are supported by a team of clinical experts working within the speciality.

Admission to a graduate certificate course is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria.

All applicants seeking admission are required to:

• hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse equivalent qualification
• hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
• have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience; and
• be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation*