Deakin University
Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing Online
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Advance your career as a registered nurse by developing specialist cardiac nursing knowledge and skills, enabling you to be an effective team member.
Course overview
Deakin University’s Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing is designed for registered nurses seeking to extend their practice in specialised cardiac care. The course develops the knowledge, clinical judgement and communication skills required to support people with complex cardiovascular conditions.
You will explore core principles of critical care before focusing on cardiac nursing practice. Key learning areas include cardiovascular anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, complex patient assessment, haemodynamic monitoring, ECG interpretation, cardiac interventions, chronic heart failure and rehabilitation. You will also strengthen your ability to evaluate clinical information, use evidence to guide decisions and collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.
The course combines online learning with clinical assessment completed through your existing employment. You must independently secure ongoing employment of at least 24 hours per week in an appropriate cardiac care setting at a collaborating Australian hospital, with suitable clinical supervision. Both the theoretical and clinical components of each credit-bearing unit must be passed.
Delivered online over one year of part-time study, the course may support advanced cardiac nursing practice across acute cardiac care, coronary care, cardiac catheter laboratories, rehabilitation, community care, clinical education and leadership. Graduates can also apply to continue into Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Cardiac 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
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing, students must attain four credit points of core units.
Core units
- Core Principles of Critical Care Nursing (two credit points)
- Cardiac Nursing (two credit points)
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree, you will need to meet all the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent.
- Registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia with no conditions or restrictions.
- Evidence of secure, ongoing employment of at least 24 hours per week in a collaborating hospital within Australia, working in a relevant speciality practice area with appropriate clinical supervision.
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised English-speaking country.
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent.
- Other evidence of English language proficiency.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be able to get credit for your course based on prior formal, non-formal or informal learning. To apply, you will need to provide supporting documentation outlined by the university. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
The Graduate Certificate of Cardiac Nursing will allow you to meet that demand in advanced practice, leadership, management and education across a range of settings, including:
- Acute Cardiac Units
- Cardiac Catheter Laboratories
- Coronary Care Units
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Cardiac Rehabilitation and Community Care
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced nursing practice commensurate with nursing theoretical knowledge and evidence-based and person-centred care.
- Demonstrate advanced communication skills to ensure quality, safe nursing care.
- Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant healthcare information to individuals, groups and/or the multidisciplinary team.
- Identify and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform evidence-based decision-making.
- Apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to routine and complex problems to optimise health outcomes.
- Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection and personal autonomy.
- Establish and maintain inclusive, collaborative professional relationships.
- Display accountability for and sound professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts.
Fees and CSP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $2,369 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $14,700 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of four credit points (normally four units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- 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 unit you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.