Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing |
| Deakin course code | H667 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 2 years part-time |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Semester 1 2025 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
- Participation requirements
- Pathways
- Alternative exits
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Critical care nurses work in some of the most complex health environments across emergency departments, ICUs and other high dependency units. The advanced specialist skills required to manage and provide care to the critically ill as part of a multidisciplinary team are in demand now more than ever across regional, rural or metropolitan hospitals. Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing prepares you to meet that demand.
Ranked #16 in the world,* our School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of the largest and best in Australia. By studying your Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing at Deakin, you will be guided through industry-informed coursework by experts in critical care nursing and have access to the School’s extensive cutting-edge research, which is recognised as well above world standard.^
Are you ready to provide expert care to critically ill patients across a range of complex settings?
If you want to take the next step in your nursing career, our Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing prepares you to practise effectively at an advanced practice level. As a graduate you will demonstrate ethical, safe, high-quality and expert clinical decision-making abilities within a multidisciplinary team. You will also gain psychomotor skills commensurate with specialised theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care.
As a student of Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Critical 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 around the speciality care of the critically ill.
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.
This course enables you to:
- analyse and provide advanced patient care in response to complex data from patient and technologically derived sources
- 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.
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.
Our innovative online program delivers a rich, interactive and empowering learning experience designed for postgraduate nurses. Live-streaming seminars and class discussions 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.
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 of the critically ill.
Graduates are prepared to handle the contemporary challenges critical care nurses may face in a course that responds to industry trends and demands, and expectations from professional bodies. You will learn how to make a difference through roles in areas such as practice, education, leadership and research.
* 2023 ShanghaiRankings Ranking of Academic Subjects.
^ Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018.
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Graduate Diploma of Critical 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 12.2% projected for registered nurses and 12.1% for nurse managers by 2028,# there is an industry demand for nurses with sophisticated specialty skills. Our Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing allows you to meet that demand in a variety of roles across advanced practice, leadership, management and education in regional, rural or metropolitan hospitals including:
- critical care nurse
- associate or unit manager
- clinical nurse specialist
- clinical nurse educator.
# Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Pathways
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Critical Care Nursing (H567) |
Clinical practice
To undertake this course you must independently secure employment of at least 24 hours per week in a critical care setting within a collaborating hospital in Australia.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Demonstrate advanced clinical practice commensurate with critical 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 critical care setting. |
| Digital Literacy | Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant critical 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 critical care setting. |
| Problem solving | Apply advanced nursing knowledge to complex problems in the critical care setting to optimise patient outcomes. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection, and personal autonomy as a critical 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 Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing students must pass 8 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 6 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point of course electives
- 1 credit point of level 7 open electives
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Note:
- This course is part-time only.
- The core critical care nursing specialisation units are completed in year 1 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.
- Failure of a compulsory clinical component in a unit will normally lead to exclusion.
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) |
Year 1 - Semester 2
| HNN792 | Critical Care Nursing (2 credit points) |
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| HNN750 | Inquiry Into Specialty Nursing Practice |
Plus 1 credit point of course elective
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HNN788 | Advanced Concepts in Specialty Nursing Practice |
Plus 1 credit point of postgraduate electives from anywhere across the University or two Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
*Speciality units are delivered on a semester basis in year one
Course structure
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
| HNN792 | Critical Care Nursing (2 credit points)* |
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HNN750 | Inquiry Into Specialty Nursing Practice |
Plus 1 credit point of postgraduate electives from anywhere across the University or two Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
Year 3 - Trimester 1
| HNN788 | Advanced Concepts in Specialty Nursing Practice |
Plus 1 credit point of course elective
*Speciality units are delivered on a semester basis in year one
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' History, Culture 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 |
Stackable short courses
Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5 cp microcredentials) to earn up to 1 credit point 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
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing clinical requirements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.