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CQUni Handbook
CL16 - Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing
Overview
Course Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is an innovative course designed for those who want to develop their knowledge, confidence, and nursing competence in the clinical setting. The course is a discipline based degree with two core units covering Patient Deterioration and Clinical Governance, and two further units from your chosen major.
The course provides you with advanced nursing knowledge and skills based upon contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning registered nurse, and allows you to apply these in your own clinical setting. The combination of online delivery with group discussions, use of current international and national research, and review of standards of care in the clinical settings, will enhance learning and development of key clinical skills required in professional practice. You will have the opportunity to enhance your professional nursing attributes including autonomy, accountability and critical reflection.
Career Information
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing provides Registered Nurses with a nursing specific post-graduate qualification. This qualification has the potential to create opportunities for graduates: competency and confidence as a registered nurse; increased financial remuneration from some employers; a solid foundation to work towards nursing leadership roles in clinical specialties, management, education or research; and entry into the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Nursing.
Course Details
| Duration | 1 years full-time or 1 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 24 |
| Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
| Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
| Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | GradCertClinNurs |
| AQF Level | Level 8: Graduate Certificate |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
|
Admission Codes
|
Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
|---|---|
|
International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.
Domestic Availability
Term 2 - 2026
Online
Term 1 - 2026
Online
Term 2 - 2025
Online
Term 1 - 2025
Online
Term 2 - 2024
Online
Term 1 - 2024
Online
Term 2 - 2023
Online
Term 1 - 2023
Online
Term 2 - 2022
Online
Term 1 - 2022
Online
Term 2 - 2021
Online
Term 1 - 2021
Online
Show All
International Availability
Term 2 - 2026
Online
Term 1 - 2026
Online
Term 2 - 2025
Online
Term 1 - 2025
Online
Term 2 - 2024
Online
Term 1 - 2024
Online
Term 2 - 2023
Online
Term 1 - 2023
Online
Term 2 - 2022
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Term 1 - 2022
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Term 2 - 2021
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Term 1 - 2021
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact
13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at
http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
Entry Requirements - What do I need to start?
Academic Requirements
To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must supply:
- Evidence of current registration as a Registered Nurse with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); and
- A letter of employment demonstrating you are currently employed in Australia with an approved clinical partner for new graduates; or
- A letter of employment demonstrating current employment in Australia as a Registered Nurse, detailing a minimum of 16 hours per week, in a clinical setting.
Letters of employment must be presented on a company letterhead and be signed and dated by a delegated authority. Please ensure that the letter contains your full name, position title, duties performed, hours per week, and length of service.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
- A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
- An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
- Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years full time with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
- An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study and must appear on a single result certificate.
If you are an International student, please visit International students English requirements for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
Assumed Knowledge
NA
Security Requirements
No information available at this time
Health Requirements
No information available at this time
Fees and Charges
Course Features
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Exit Awards | Not applicable |
| Accreditation |
|
Residential School Requirements
No Residential School for this course.
Practicum/Work Placement
| Not applicable |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 309 |
| 2023 | 341 |
| 2022 | 300 |
| 2021 | 294 |
Inherent Requirements
There are currently no inherent requirements associated with this course.
Core Learning Outcomes
- 1. Apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills within the clinical context
- 2. Demonstrate personal autonomy and accountability to critically reflect on practice
- 3. Demonstrate strategies to effectively adapt to new situations in clinical practice
- 4. Analyse professional practice issues through the use of advanced technical and communication skills.
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | ||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | ||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | ||||
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | ||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | ||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | ||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | ||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | ||||
| 10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||
| 11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||
| 12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||
| 13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||
| 14. Course content drawn from higher education units | ||||
Generalist Learning Outcomes
- 1. Apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills within the clinical context
- 2. Demonstrate personal autonomy and accountability to critically reflect on practice
- 3. Demonstrate strategies to effectively adapt to new situations in clinical practice
- 4. Analyse professional practice issues through the use of advanced technical and communication skills
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | ||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | ||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | ||||
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | ||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | ||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | ||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | ||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | ||||
| 10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||
| 11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||
| 12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||
| 13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||
| 14. Course content drawn from higher education units | ||||
Gerontology Learning Outcomes
- 1. Apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills within the aged care clinical context
- 2. Demonstrate personal autonomy and accountability to critically reflect on practice
- 3. Demonstrate strategies to effectively adapt to new situations in aged care clinical practice
- 4. Analyse professional practice issues through the use of advanced technical and communication skills
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | ||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | ||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | ||||
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | ||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | ||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | ||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | ||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | ||||
| 10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||
| 11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||
| 12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||
| 13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||
| 14. Course content drawn from higher education units | ||||
Course Structure
In order to complete this course, you must:
- Complete the core structure
- Complete 1 major
Core Structure
| Number of units: 2 | Total credit points: 12 |
|---|
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is a one year part-time course.
ALL students must undertake the following core units.
In addition, you must complete one of the available majors. You should plan your enrolment according to the core requirements of your chosen specialty.
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| NURS20170 | Patient Deterioration in the Clinical Setting | |
| NURS20169 | Nursing and Clinical Governance | |
Generalist Major
| Number of units: 2 | Total credit points: 12 |
|---|
Students who meet the prerequisite requirements and choose to study the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Generalist) must complete the two core units and the following two units.
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| NURS20171 | Nursing and Professional Practice 1 | |
| NURS20172 | Introduction to Developing Specialty Practice | |
Gerontology Major
| Number of units: 2 | Total credit points: 12 |
|---|
Students who meet the prerequisite requirements and choose to study the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Gerontology) must complete the two core units and the following two units.
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| DCHA20003 | Supporting Older People with Cognitive and Sensory Changes | |
| HAGE20001 | Contemporary Approaches to Gerontological Care | |
More Details
There are two application pathways for entry to this course CL16 – Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing. Upon application, you will be required to identify which pathway will be used to enter. Please choose one of the following:
Pathway 1 – applicants who are enrolled in a partnered Graduate Program at one of the following Health Services:
-
Cairns and Hinterland & Hospital and Health Services (CHHHS)
-
Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services (CQHHS)
-
Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS)
-
Far West Local Health District (FWLHD), New South Wales
-
Mackay Hospital and Health Services (MHHS)
-
Mater Townsville
-
Metro South Hospital and Health Services (MSHHS)
-
North West Hospital and Health Services (NWHHS)
-
South West Hospital and Health Services (SWHHS)
-
Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS)
-
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (WBHHS)
-
Yorke & Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN), South Australia.
Pathway 2 – students not enrolled in a partnered Graduate Program.
Eligibility and application documents
Pathway 1
Applicants applying for entry via Pathway 1 are required to submit the following with their application. Without this information/documentation, your application will be incomplete and will not progress:
1. AHPRA registration number
2. Letter of support from your Health Service demonstrating you are currently employed with an approved clinical partner (as per list above) for new graduates.
Pathway 2
Applicants applying for entry via Pathway 2 are required to submit the following with their application. Without this information/documentation, your application will be incomplete and will not progress:
1. AHPRA registration number
2. Letter of support from your Health Service that must detail your current employment as a Registered Nurse, detail a minimum of 16 hours per week is worked in a clinical setting and what area/setting currently worked in. Please ensure the letter is on Health Service letterhead with a printed name, signature, and contact details for verification if required.
Upon receiving a successful offer to study CL16, students entering via:
Pathway 1 – Generalist major - enrol in units as per the following:
a. Term one of enrolment – NURS20170
b. Term two of enrolment – NURS20169
c. Credit for the generalist major units NURS20171 and NURS20172 may be applied at the successful completion of NURS20170, NURS20169 and notification of the successful completion of your 12-month partnered graduate program.
Pathway 1 – Gerontology major - enrol in units as per the following:
a. Term one of enrolment – DCHA20003
b. Term two of enrolment – HAGE20001
c. Credit for the gerontology major units NURS20169 and NURS20171 may be applied at the successful completion of DCHA20003 and HAGE20001 and notification of the successful completion of your 12-month graduate partnered program.
Pathway 2 – Generalist major - enrol in all four units as per the following:
a. Term one of enrolment – NURS20170 and NURS20171
b. Term two of enrolment – NURS20169 and NURS20172.
Pathway 2 – Gerontology major - enrol in units as per the following:
a. Term one of enrolment – DCHA20003 and NURS20170
b. Term two of enrolment – HAGE20001 and NURS20169