Graduate Certificate of Intraoperative Nursing
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Intraoperative Nursing |
| Deakin course code | H568 |
| Course credit points | 4 |
| Course version | 1 |
| 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
The Graduate Certificate of Intraoperative Nursing at Deakin builds your specialised knowledge and clinical confidence required to support safe, effective care in surgical environments. Designed for registered nurses, the course focuses on perioperative practice, patient safety and evidence-based decision-making within the operating theatre.
You’ll develop advanced skills in intraoperative nursing, including patient assessment, infection control, aseptic technique and interdisciplinary collaboration. Learning is grounded in real-world practice, helping you strengthen your ability to anticipate and respond to the complexities of intraoperative care.
As the only dedicated intraoperative nursing course in Australia, Deakin offers a unique opportunity to specialise in this critical area of practice. With flexible study options, you can advance your expertise while continuing to work, positioning yourself for career progression within perioperative nursing settings.
Indicative student workload
As an online student in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting online and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course. Refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information.
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 and 13.6% for nurse managers by 2030*, there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. Our Graduate Certificate of Intraoperative Nursing will allow you to meet that demand in a variety of roles across advanced practice, leadership, management and education including:
- instrument nurse
- circulating nurse.
* 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 intraoperative care setting within a collaborating hospital in Australia.
Clinical requirement
Clinical practice with intraoperative nursing roles (instrument/circulating nurse) per semester.
Enrolment in a clinical perianaesthesia unit HNN755 as an elective (semester 1 only) requires additional clinical practice in anaesthesia and post anaesthesia care unit and evidence of support from the employing health service.
Core clinical certificate units in this course are semester based. Students are expected to attend synchronous seminars on Wednesdays throughout the semester.
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Demonstrate safe psychomotor skills and clinical practice commensurate with intraoperative 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 intraoperative care setting. |
| Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant intraoperative information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team. |
| Identify and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the intraoperative care setting. |
| Apply specialised nursing knowledge and skills to routine and complex problems in the intraoperative care setting to optimise patient outcomes. |
| Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection and personal autonomy as an intraoperative 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 Intraoperative 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
- 2 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of course electives.
Most units are equal to one credit point. Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Semester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HNN740 | Core Principles of Intraoperative Nursing Care |
Plus 1 credit point course elective or specialisation unit
Semester 2
| HNN743 | Principles of Complex Intraoperative Nursing Care |
Plus 1 credit point course elective or specialisation unit
Course electives
| HND701 | Pathophysiology of Diabetes |
| HND702 | Management of Diabetes |
| HND731 | Contemporary Approaches to Diabetes Education |
| HND732 | Diabetes in Social and Psychological Contexts |
| HNN714 | Ethical Dimensions in Nursing |
| HNN715 | Leadership and Management in Nursing |
| HNN730 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning |
| HNN749 | Patient Safety and Risk Management |
| HNN754 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Histories, Cultures and Health |
| HNN755 | Core Principles of Perianaesthesia Nursing Care * |
| HNN761 | Biopsychosocialspiritual Mental Health Nursing Assessment |
| HNN762 | Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing |
| HNN771 | Facilitating Clinical Learning |
| HNN772 | Healthcare in Low Resource/Complex Environments |
| HNN773 | Healthcare Management of Vulnerable Populations |
| HNN780 | Quality and Safety in Medication Management |
| HNN781 | Therapeutic Medication Management |
| HNN782 | Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness |
| HNN783 | Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing |
| HNN789 | The Physical Health Needs of Persons with Mental Illness |
| HNN790 | Sustaining the Mental Health Nursing Workforce |
* Please see further information re HNN755
Intraoperative Specialisation
Intraoperative Specialisation in Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing
| HNN730 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning |
| HNN749 | Patient Safety and Risk Management |
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.