Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing |
| Deakin course code | H645 |
| Course credit points | 8 |
| Course version | 3 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2023 onwards |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Duration | 2 year part-time study |
| 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
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
As demand grows for highly skilled nurses in critical care, Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing prepares you to take a leading role in the management of critically ill patients in intensive care and high dependency units.
You will study with one of the world’s leading nursing schools and be guided by experts in critical care as you explore advanced clinical practice, leadership and contemporary healthcare challenges. Build sophisticated skills in clinical judgement, communication and decision-making to support safe, high-quality patient care.
With flexible online delivery, you can continue working while you study. Extend your expertise through elective units that support leadership, education and advanced practice pathways, while strong industry partnerships enable immersive clinical learning across diverse healthcare settings.
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing you can expect to participate in a range of teaching and learning activities each week. You will attend online 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 and 13.6% for nurse managers by 2030,* 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.
**2025 Employment Outlook - for the five years to November 2030, Australian Government National Skills Commission
Pathways
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.
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Demonstrate advanced clinical practice commensurate with intensive care nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care. |
| Demonstrate advanced communication skills to ensure the delivery of high 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, analyse and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the intensive care setting. |
| Apply advanced nursing knowledge to 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. |
| Demonstrate 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 Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
An 8-credit point Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 6 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point of course electives
- 1 credit point of open electives.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Semester 1 Entry Core units
Year 1, 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)* |
Year 2, Trimester 1
| HNN750 | Inquiry Into Specialty Nursing Practice |
Plus 1 from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university or two Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
Trimester 2
| HNN788 | Advanced Concepts in Specialty Nursing Practice |
Plus 1 credit point of course elective from the list below
* These units are a semester based delivery
Semester 2 Entry Core Units
Year 1, Semester 2
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HNN791 | Core Principles of Critical Care Nursing (2 credit points)* |
Year 2, Semester 1
| HNN794 | Intensive Care Nursing (2 credit points)* |
Trimester 2
| HNN788 | Advanced Concepts in Specialty Nursing Practice |
Plus 1 credit point of course elective from the list below
Year 3, Trimester 1
| HNN750 | Inquiry Into Specialty Nursing Practice |
plus 1 from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university or two Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
* These units are a semester based delivery
Course electives
Students must complete 2 electives of which one must be from the list below:
| 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 |
| 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 |
| HNN778 | Research in Nursing and Midwifery |
| 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 |
Open Electives
Mix and match Deakin short courses (0.5 cp microcredentials) to earn up to 2 credit point(s) of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Deakin stackable short course options.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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.