Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Semester 1 2023. This course map is for new students commencing from Semester 2 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Online	Yes
Duration	Note: this course is only available part-time
Deakin course code	H645
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
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

With job growth of 13.9% projected for registered nurses by 2026,* there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. As a registered nurse, Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing will equip you with the analytical, practical, communication and leadership skills needed to take the lead in the management of critically ill patients in intensive care and high dependency units at an advanced practice level.

Study with one of Australia’s largest and most established nursing schools. Ranked 20th in the world,^ the School’s cutting-edge research is recognised as well above world standard.# Our strong industry connections mean you will be guided by experts in critical care nursing as you explore the current and emerging trends, concepts, knowledge and evidence that provides the policy and practice framework in which the care of critically ill patients takes place.

Are you ready to become a change agent and play a leading role in advancing the care of critically ill patients?

If you want to take the next step in your nursing career, our Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing will prepare you to become a leader and practise effectively at an advanced practice level in critical care settings. As a graduate you will demonstrate ethical, safe, high-quality, expert clinical decision-making abilities within an interdisciplinary team, and psychomotor skills commensurate with specialised theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person or client-centred care.

As a student of Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing you will be challenged to advance your professional judgement by exploring the current and emerging trends, concepts, knowledge and evidence that provides the policy and practice framework in which the care of critically ill patients takes places.

Second year elective units allow you to pursue your specific areas of interest and career goals. You can choose from complementary areas of practice to your specialisation, or undertake studies preparing you for roles in education, leadership or management. You will also have the opportunity to select a unit from anywhere across the university, further expanding your skill set.

Deakin’s strong industry connections ensure a high level of collaboration and support during your clinical practice. This means that while you study you can immerse yourself in your speciality practice area with one of our numerous metropolitan, rural and regional health partners across Australia.

Our innovative online program delivers a rich, interactive and empowering learning experience designed for postgraduate nurses. Live-streaming seminars and class discussions will encourage critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork skills. Australia’s top-rated tech support and access to our expert teaching staff means you can learn at your own pace, when and where it suits you, without compromising quality or support.

This course enables you to:

evaluate and intervene in response to complex data from patient and technologically-derived sources
develop an advanced understanding of normal physiology, and the pathophysiology of illness and injury of critically ill patients
perform focused, systematic and methodical patient assessments
demonstrate advanced clinical judgement leading to autonomous decision-making
practise critical thinking and reflection regarding current health environment issues and specialty nursing practice
explore and demonstrate an understanding of complex practice, transcultural, ethical and psychosocial concepts
combine advanced communication skills with professional knowledge to promote safe, high-quality care of the critically ill.

You will be challenged to become a leader in evidence-based practice, and a change agent to improve the quality of nursing care and patient outcomes in intensive care and high dependency units.

Graduates are prepared to handle the contemporary challenges intensive care nurses may face with a course that responds to industry trends and demands. You will learn how to make a difference through senior roles in areas such as practice, education, leadership and research.

*2021 Employment Outlook - for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government National Skills Commission.
^2022 ShanghaiRankings Ranking of Academic Subjects.
#Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018.

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 individual unit details 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 13.9% projected for registered nurses and 23.1% for nurse managers by 2026,* there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. Our Graduate Diploma 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.

**2021 Employment Outlook - for the five years to November 2026, Australian Government National Skills Commission

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Intensive Care Nursing (H545)

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.

Articulated courses

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate advanced clinical practice commensurate with intensive care nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care.
Communication	Demonstrate advanced communication skills to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe nursing care to patients in the intensive care setting.
Digital literacy	Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant intensive care information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team.
Critical thinking	Identify, analyse and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the intensive care setting.
Problem solving	Apply advanced nursing knowledge to complex problems in the intensive care setting to optimise patient outcomes.
Self-management	Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection, and personal autonomy as an intensive care nurse.
Teamwork	Establish and maintain inclusive, collaborative professional relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team.
Global citizenship	Demonstrate accountability for, and sound professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural, and environmental contexts.

Course rules

To complete the requirements of the Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing, students must attain 8 credit points, comprising of 6 credit points of core (compulsory) units, plus 2 credit points of electives, of which 1 must be from the course electives, the remaining 1 can be from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university.

The core intensive care nursing specialisation units are completed in year one of the course and are semester-based delivery.

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.

Note: Failure of a compulsory clinical component in a unit will normally lead to exclusion.

All commencing Faculty of Health course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).