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CL56 - Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

Overview

Course Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to practice in this area of nursing specialisation. You will explore the mental health nursing role and its historical underpinnings, and apply knowledge of the principles and theoretical concepts that underpin this unique nursing discipline. You will have the opportunity to develop the ability to undertake mental state assessments, diagnostic formulations and risk assessments, and to critically evaluate your application of these skills to the clinical setting. While acquiring knowledge of psychotropic medication, you will explore ethical issues associated with drug use in this particular group of consumers. You will apply the concept of Recovery as a foundation from which to establish mental health nursing actions, and construct meaningful relationships with consumers.

Career Information

On completion of this award, students will be able to seek employment as a nurse in a mental health setting. 

Course Details
Duration 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) GradCertMHN
AQF Level Level 8: Graduate Certificate
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $9,360
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,220
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,418
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $8,418
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,060
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $7,794
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $8,400
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $8,400
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $7,566
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $1,992

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable
Where and when can I start?

Domestic Availability

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2025

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2024

Online

Overseas Availabilities

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2025

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2024

Online
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/
What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Entry scores are not available, please contact the Student Advice Team for more information
Entry Requirements

Students must hold current nursing registration with Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA).

Security Requirements
Not applicable.
Health Requirements
Not applicable.
Assumed Knowledge

Education for registration as a nurse with Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA).

Fees and Charges
Be Different
  • Indicative Year - 2025
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $9,360
  • Indicative Year - 2024
    • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,220
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,418
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $8,418
  • Indicative Year - 2023
    • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,060
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $7,794
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $8,400
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $8,400
  • Indicative Year - 2022
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $7,566
    • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $1,992
Higher Education
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Core

    None

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

Not applicable

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 65
2023 99
2022 142
2021 210
2020 173
Inherent Requirements
There are Inherent Requirements (IRs) that you need to be aware of, and fulfil, to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course. IRs are the essential capabilities, knowledge, behaviours and skills that are needed to complete a unit or course.

Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.

If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.

Ethical Behaviour

Examples are:

  • Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy, Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedure, Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure, Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
  • Treating personal information obtained in classroom and clinical settings as private and confidential.
  • Respecting an individual's/group's diversity by demonstrating sensitivity to religious cultural and individual differences.
  • Demonstrating an ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.
Behavioural Stability

Examples are:

  • Being receptive and responding appropriately to different viewpoints, to constructive feedback and to direction from academics and clinical staff.
  • Interacting positively and effectively in groups with other students while attending activities related to the course.
  • Contributing to on-line discussion forums and tutorials with peers and academics whilst using respectful language and tone.
  • Coping with your own emotions, responses and behaviour effectively when dealing with challenging situations in the clinical setting.
Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal, Written and Technology)

Examples are:

  • Actively participating in discussion activities related to the course.
  • Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual or group.
  • Incorporating the use of effective non-verbal cues such as eye contact when communicating with academics and peers during activities related to the course, building positive learning relationships.
  • Constructing assessment work to academic standards with attention to grammar and punctuation.
  • Expressing complex and detailed information and knowledge into a logical and easily understood written form for assessment requirements.
  • Accessing a computer for your studies.
  • Regularly accessing the internet for research, and email for communication with peers and university staff.
  • Analysing, manipulating and displaying scientific information.
Cognitive Abilities (Knowledge and Cognitive Skills, Literacy and Numeracy)

Examples are:

  • Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
  • Completing academic learning activities and assessment tasks within reasonable timeframes.
  • Actively listening to information within a variety of academic situations.
  • Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions associated with the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing format used by the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences.
Relational Skills

Examples are:

  • Adhering to the registered nurse standards for practice, in particular Standard 2
  • Establishing, sustaining and concluding relationships in a way that differentiates the boundaries between professional and personal relationships.
  • Communicating effectively and being respectful of a person's dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights.
  • Recognising that people are the experts in the experience of their life.
Reflective Skills

Examples are:

  • Adhering to the registered nurse standards for practice, in particular Standards 1 and 7.
  • Accessing, analysing and using the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice.
  • Reflecting on practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice.
  • Respecting all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures.
  • Demonstrating the use of ethical frameworks when making decisions.
Sustainable Performance

Examples are:

  • Actively participating in activities related to the course.
  • Undertaking on-line quizzes and assessments with adequate, sustained levels of physical energy and concentration.
Interpersonal Engagement

Examples are:

  • Adhering to the registered nurse standards for practice, in particular Standard 2.
  • Demonstrating establishing, sustaining and concluding relationships in a way that differentiates the boundaries between professional and personal relationships.
  • Communicating effectively, and being respectful of a person's dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights.
  • Recognising that people are the experts in the experience of their life.
  • Demonstrate the providing of support and directing people to resources to optimise health related decisions.
  • Demonstrate advocating on behalf of people in a manner that respects the person's autonomy and legal capacity.
  • Actively fostering a culture of safety and learning that includes engaging with health professionals and others, to share knowledge and practice that supports person-centres care.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Abilities

Examples are:

  • Accessing relevant CQUniversity sites to facilitate effective engagement with course content and demonstrate understanding of course requirements.
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Analyse and demonstrate mental health nursing skills
  • 2. Analyse the mental health nursing role drawing on its historical underpinnings and theoretical models
  • 3. Evaluate biological treatment of persons with a mental illness using an ethical framework
  • 4. Apply Recovery principles to mental health nursing practice.
  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:

  1. Complete the core structure
Number of units: 4 Total credit points: 24

There are no additional notes required for this graduate certificate.

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
NURS20150 Contextual Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Practice
NURS20151 Creating Meaningful Relationships
NURS20157 Mental Health Nursing Assessment and Formulation
NURS20158 Clinical Foundations for Practice
More Details
There is no additional information for this course.