Postgraduate programs for nurses and other health professionals
The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine spans six campuses - Ballarat, Blacktown, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and North Sydney. We have developed thousands of compassionate caregivers who are helping to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities with their expertise and passion.
Along with researchers, lecturers, and clinical supervisors, the school has four joint research appointments with public and private health services.
Introduction to postgraduate programs in Health at ACU
Research
Research in the school focuses on five major national health priority areas:
acute care
chronic and palliative care
innovative health care delivery systems
implementation research translating evidence into practice
vulnerable communities.
Our institutes, centres and faculties boast internationally renowned scholars and produce world-leading research.
In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment, ACU ranked first or equal first for ten fields of research in Australia including in:
cardiorespiratory medicine and haematology
clinical sciences
cognitive sciences
human movement and sports science
nursing
nutrition and dietetics
psychology
public health and health services
Coursework programs
We are recognised globally as a leader in a range of subject specialisations including nursing for which we are ranked 14th in the world and fourth in Australia (Shanghai Ranking, Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023).
Clinical Nursing
Commonwealth Supported Places are available for these programs.
Through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus you will explore critical care concepts within the cardiac specialisation. Modules explore acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Rhythm interpretation and common dysrhythmias through normal 12 lead ECG and interpretation of abnormal findings are also embedded within the specialty modules. Other topics such as Cardiomyopathy & cardiac valves, Implantable devices, Cardiothoracic surgery, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Palliative care in Cardiac Nursing Care are embedded in this specialty module.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Correctional health specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
In the correction health specialisation, the mental health of prisoners is comprehensively and extensively covered. Modules include the importance of physical health, healthcare management, and consequences of accelerated ageing of the prison population. Furthermore, you will be educated in identifying and caring for vulnerable prisoner groups and their health needs as well as caring for prisoners with chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes. Communicable diseases, harm minimisation and palliation and pain management will also be addressed.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Gerontological nursing specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will explore acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems. Older persons require a multi-faceted approach to care and the gerontological specialisation will support you to undertake risk assessment, clinical decision-making and to implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure the delivery of quality and safe person-centred care to older persons. Key concepts of health and wellness, aged related health conditions, pain, pharmacotherapy and comprehensive risk assessment, as well as concepts of patient’s rights, governance frameworks, continuous improvement systems, loss and grief, elder abuse and behaviours and perceptions of older persons will be explored to enable you to practice inclusive, respectful, person-centred care in the gerontological setting.
Through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus you will explore critical care concepts within the intensive care specialisation. This specialisation is offered through our affiliate model where you will undertake two of the four course units with an ACU affiliate facility where you will be employed in the intensive care setting. The other two units you will undertake online with ACU. The ACU units explore integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in patients with a critical condition.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Medical specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
This specialty explores acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems. The medical specialty modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in our ageing population. There is a focus on common respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis; as well as the significance of infection control and the implications of hospital acquired infections. Furthermore, the medical specialty modules cover neurological conditions including stroke, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia with discussions centred around common clinical risks such as falls and pressure injury assessment and management. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a medical illness, as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care. ACU is proud to partner with Northern Health, St Vincent’s Melbourne (Public) and the Prince Charles Hospital for the delivery of this speciality.
Through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus you will explore critical care concepts within the neuroscience specialisation. This specialisation is offered through our affiliate model where you will undertake two of the four course units with an ACU affiliate facility where you will be employed in the intensive care setting. The other two units you will undertake online with ACU. The ACU units explore integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in patients with a critical condition.
In the peri-operative specialisation you will explore the operating theatre environment through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus. Modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management and surgical risk models.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Renal, involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
The renal specialty explores acute renal conditions as well as living with renal disease and the role of the nurse in primary health care for people suffering chronic renal disease. During your studies you will cover topics such as: renal pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics; GIT complications including constipation; the effects of renal insufficiency on oral health; and renal pathology. Furthermore, students enrolled in this specialty will engage in module content that discusses the role of vascular access devices in the care of the person with Renal disease and infection control considerations, haemo and peritoneal dialysis. Students will have opportunity to consider diabetic nephropathy with a specific focus on Indigenous Australians diagnosed with the condition. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a chronic illness, end-stage renal disease, organ transplantation as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Surgical specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
The surgical specialty modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management and surgical risk models. Pre-operative and post-operative implications to surgical outcomes will be explored along with detection and management of post-operative deterioration, surgical co-morbidities, and rehabilitation. Surgical specialities explored include orthopaedics; neurosurgical; cardiothoracic and vascular; breast and reconstructive surgery; head, neck and ophthalmic surgery; gynaecological and urology; gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary; trauma; and finally, aesthetics surgery for cancer of the face, neck and breast. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a medical illness, as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care.
ACU is proud to partner with Austin Health, Northern Health and the Prince Charles Hospital for the delivery of this speciality.
