Australian Catholic University
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Intensive Care Nursing) Online
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Strengthen your ability to assess rapidly changing conditions, make complex evidence-informed decisions and lead safe, people-centred nursing care for critically ill patients in intensive care environments.
Course overview
Intensive care nurses work in demanding clinical environments where patients may have life-threatening conditions requiring rapid assessment and complex intervention. Australian Catholic University’s Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing (Intensive Care Nursing) equips registered nurses with the advanced knowledge and reasoning capabilities required to support critically ill patients and their families.
You will combine advanced bioscience and intensive care principles with evidence-informed practice to assess and respond to rapidly changing health needs. The specialisation examines advanced clinical decision-making, ethical challenges and the physical, psychosocial and cultural impacts of critical illness. You will also strengthen your ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, participate in shared decision-making and contribute to professional standards and leadership in high-acuity settings.
Delivered asynchronously through ACU Online, the course comprises four units and can be completed in one year of part-time study. Applicants must provide evidence of experience in intensive care. Graduates may be eligible to continue into ACU’s Graduate Diploma of Advanced Clinical Nursing or Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
19th July, 2027
11th October, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing (Intensive Care Nursing), you must successfully complete 40 credit points comprising four units. Each unit is worth 10 credit points.
Core units
- Concepts in Advanced Clinical Nursing
- Contemporary Nursing Practice
- Intensive Care Nursing: Advanced Clinical Practice
- Intensive Care Nursing: Advanced Professional Practice
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor of Nursing or an equivalent qualification.
- Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
- Meet the requirements of ACU’s Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
- Provide evidence of experience in Intensive Care Nursing.
English language requirements
Applicants may be required to demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with ACU’s admission requirements. Contact the university for further information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Integrate advanced bioscience and intensive care principles with evidence-based practice to make complex clinical decisions.
- Apply advanced clinical reasoning in high-pressure, intensive care contexts.
- Assess and respond to the physical, psychosocial, and cultural impacts of critical illness.
- Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and engage in shared decision-making.
- Evaluate contemporary intensive care practices and lead professional standards.
Career outcomes
Graduates may pursue opportunities in areas such as:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Intensive Care
- Advanced Practice Nurse in Critical Care Settings
- Clinical Educator or Mentor in Intensive Care Nursing
- Leadership roles in ICU or high-acuity clinical environments
Fees and CSP
Commonwealth Supported Place
Indicative unit fee in 2027: $613 (10-credit-point unit)
Indicative annual fee in 2027: $2,452
Indicative full-course fee: $2,452
The average full-course fee shown is calculated based on the 40 credit point (4 units) course structure completed over 1 year.
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.