Graduate Certificate of Critical Care Nursing

Critical care nurses work in some of the most complex health environments across emergency departments, ICUs and other high dependency units. As a registered nurse, Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Critical Care Nursing will build on your existing knowledge and skills, preparing you to provide high-quality care to the critically ill across a range of settings.

Our School of Nursing and Midwifery is ranked #15 in the world^*. It is one of Australia’s best and most established schools with cutting-edge nursing research recognised as well above world standard. Our strong industry connections mean you will be guided by experts in critical care nursing as you explore the current and emerging trends, concepts, knowledge and evidence that provides the policy and practice framework of critical care nursing.

Are you ready to build on you existing knowledge and skills and take the next step in your nursing career?

Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Critical Care Nursing prepares you to take the next step in your nursing career. Our graduates are able to demonstrate ethical, safe, high-quality and expert clinical decision-making abilities within an interdisciplinary team.

Your specialised theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care will allow you to practise effectively across a range of settings, ensuring you are well placed to meet the industry demand for nurses with speciality skills.

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 specialty practice area with one of our numerous metropolitan, rural and regional health partners across Australia.

Our innovative online program delivers a rich, interactive and empowering learning experience designed for postgraduate nursing students. Live-streaming seminars and class discussions will 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.

This course enables you to:

• analyse and provide advanced patient care in response to complex data from patient and technologically derived sources
• perform focused, systematic and methodical patient assessments
• develop an advanced understanding of normal physiology, and the pathophysiology of illness and injury of critically ill patients
• collaboratively assess and provide advanced management of specific patient groups: paediatrics, trauma, gynaecological, obstetric, oncology, older persons and those presenting with cardiovascular, renal, neurological and respiratory dysfunction
• develop greater decision-making autonomy, critical thinking and leadership skills, advanced clinical judgement, and enhanced professionalism.

Graduates are prepared to handle the contemporary challenges critical care nurses may face with a course that responds to industry trends and demands. You will learn how to make a difference through roles in areas such as practice, education, leadership and research.*

^* 2024 ShanghaiRankings Ranking of Academic Subjects.
^{^} Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018.

• Begin the application process

  We have a network of experienced authorised agents around the world who can help you through the application process. They are trained to provide advice and information on Deakin University and our degrees. Find out if you need to use a Deakin authorised agent to submit your application.

• Check entry requirements

  Entry requirements differ depending on your degree or country of residence. Before starting your application, read through the entry requirements on the course page entry requirement tab.

  Need to improve your English language skills?

  You can enrol at the Deakin University English Language Institute and study a course to improve your English language skills. If you pass, this can help you get into most Deakin degrees. Please note, this page is available in both Indonesian and Vietnamese.

  Need help meeting the academic requirements?

  Deakin College is your first step towards your dream degree at Deakin University. With small class sizes and a supportive environment, Deakin College sets you up for success at university.

• Certify supporting documents

  Most documents need to be certified. For example, award certificates, academic transcripts and your identity papers (passport). Documents in languages other than English will also need to be translated. Take the original document and a photocopy to an authorised person (for example, justice of the peace, public notary, member of the police force or Australian lawyer), to sign.

  Be sure to attach all requested supporting documentation, otherwise your application could be delayed. If you get your application in early, this gives us more time to arrange visas and accommodation if you need them.

• Submit your application

  Depending on your nationality and country of residence, you can submit your application directly to Deakin through our online international student application service StudyLink Connect or through a Deakin authorised agent.