Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing |
| Deakin course code | H572 |
| Course credit points | 4 |
| Course version | 4 |
| 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 |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon 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
Each year, 2.8 million hospitalisations in Australia involve surgery, with perioperative nurses playing a vital role across pre-, intra- and post-operative care. Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing prepares you to step confidently into advanced perioperative practice.
Ranked #14 in the world for nursing, Deakin’s School of Nursing and Midwifery combines leading research with strong industry connections. You will build advanced assessment, communication and clinical decision-making skills grounded in evidence-based, person-centred care.
Designed for practising nurses, this flexible course develops your capability in anaesthetic and intraoperative patient management, including pharmacology, instrumentation and patient monitoring across complex surgical settings. You will be equipped to deliver safe, high-quality care and contribute effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
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 by 2030**, there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. Our Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing will allow you to meet that demand in a variety of roles across advanced practice, leadership and management, including:
- anaesthetic nurse
- circulating nurse
- instrument nurse
- post anaesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse
- pre-admission and day surgery nurses.
** 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 a perioperative setting within a collaborating hospital in Australia.
Clinical requirement
Clinical practice across all perioperative speciality areas (intraoperative, perianaesthesia and post anaesthesia care unit) per semester.
Core clinical certificate units in this course are semester based. Students are expected to attend synchronous seminars on most Wednesdays throughout the semester.
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Demonstrate safe psychomotor skills and clinical practice commensurate with perioperative 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 perioperative care setting. |
| Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant perioperative care information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team. |
| Identify and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the perioperative care setting. |
| Apply specialised nursing knowledge and skills to routine and complex problems in the perioperative care setting to optimise patient outcomes. |
| Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection, and personal autonomy as a perioperative 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 Perioperative 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.
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. Recognition of the importance of clinical assessments is calculated in the overall student workload
Failure of a compulsory clinical component in a unit will normally lead to exclusion
Most units are equal to one credit point. Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Semester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HNN755 | Core Principles of Perianaesthesia Nursing Care |
| HNN740 | Core Principles of Intraoperative Nursing Care |
Semester 2
| HNN742 | Principles of Complex Perianaesthesia Nursing Care |
| HNN743 | Principles of Complex Intraoperative Nursing Care |
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.