Graduate Certificate of Intensive Care Nursing
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Intensive Care Nursing |
| Deakin course code | H545 |
| Course credit points | 4 |
| Course version | 3 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2023 onwards |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Duration | 1 year part-time study |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Semester 1 2027 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Pathways
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
With demand for registered nurses continuing to grow, there is increasing need for advanced specialty skills in critical care. Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Intensive Care Nursing equips you with the knowledge and clinical capability to care for critically ill patients in intensive care and high dependency settings.
Study with Deakin’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, ranked #14 in the world, and learn from experts actively shaping critical care practice. You will build advanced skills in patient assessment, clinical decision-making and the interpretation of complex data, preparing you to practise confidently at an advanced level.
Designed for working nurses, this flexible online course allows you to study while gaining hands-on experience in your specialist practice area through Deakin’s strong network of healthcare partners across metropolitan, rural and regional settings.
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Graduate Certificate of Intensive Care Nursing you can expect to participate in a range of teaching and learning activities each week. You will attend on-line synchronous study days and complete asynchronous guided learning modules. There are also additional self-directed study commitments to complete for both university and clinical assessment tasks.
Professional recognition
Nurses employed under the Victorian public hospital award receive a higher duties allowance for postgraduate qualifications relevant to their practice.
Career opportunities
With job growth of 13.7% projected for registered nurses by 2030,* there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. Our Graduate Certificate of Intensive Care Nursing will allow you to meet that demand in a variety of roles across advanced practice, leadership, management and education including:
- ICU nurse
- associate or unit manager
- clinical nurse specialist
- clinical nurse educator.
* Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections
Pathways
Clinical practice
To undertake this course you must independently secure employment of at least 24 hours per week in an intensive care setting within a collaborating hospital in Australia.
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Demonstrate safe psychomotor skills and clinical practice commensurate with intensive care nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care. |
| Demonstrate communication skills to develop and implement plans of care to ensure the delivery of quality, safe nursing care to patients in the intensive care setting. |
| Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant intensive care information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team. |
| Identify and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the intensive care setting. |
| Apply specialised nursing knowledge and skills to routine and complex problems in the intensive care setting to optimise patient outcomes. |
| Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection, and personal autonomy as an intensive care nurse. |
| Establish and maintain inclusive, collaborative professional relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team. |
| Display accountability for, and sound professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural, and environmental contexts. |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Intensive Nursing you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit points of core units.
Note: Both the theoretical and clinical components of the assessment for each unit must be passed in order to successfully gain an overall pass in this course. Compulsory clinical hurdles form part of the assessment of this course. Failure of a compulsory clinical component in a unit will normally lead to exclusion.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Semester 1 Entry
Semester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HNN791 | Core Principles of Critical Care Nursing (2 credit points) |
Semester 2
| HNN794 | Intensive Care Nursing (2 credit points) |
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing clinical requirements.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.