Specialist Certificate in Critical Care Nursing
Course code: SC-CCNURS
January, June
AUD $7,000 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
January, June
AUD $7,456 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 6.5: with no band less than 6.0
Course structure
Overview
What you will learn
The Specialist Certificate in Critical Care Nursing draws on scientific knowledge and evidence-based research to develop skills in critical care nursing. The course focuses on comprehension, analysis and problem-solving skills.
As a student, you will:
- Learn to apply specialist knowledge to the critical care setting to facilitate patient centred care and ensure optimal clinical outcomes
- Develop a sound theoretical base to inform nursing practice in dynamic, complex and demanding critical care environments.
Course structure
To gain the Specialist Certificate in Critical Care Nursing, you must complete 25 points comprised of:
- One core pre-requisite subject; and
- One core subject.
Note: Students must successfully complete the core pre-requisite subject Applied Pathophysiology (NURS90076) before progressing to Foundations in Critical Care Nursing (NURS90122).
Workload
The estimated hours required for each subject is between 15-19 hours per week, but this varies for each student and depends on your task management and planning, familiarity with the material, reading style and speed.
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this certificate.
Students must successfully complete the core pre-requisite subject Applied Pathophysiology (NURS90076) before progressing to (and completing) the other core subject.
Core pre-requisite
Students will commence the course with this pre-requisite subject
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Applied Pathophysiology · 12.5 pts |
This subject provides a foundation for understanding the pathologic basis of disease across the lifespan. It equips learners with the knowledge and skills required to explain assessment data and prioritise patient care in a specialty area of practice based on scientific principles. Core pathophysiological concepts covered will include: cellular responses to stress; adaptation, injury and death; acute and chronic inflammation; tissue renewal and repair; infection; neoplasia; haemodynamic, genetic and immune system disorders and genetic predisposition to disease. Using a case study based approach, learners will be provided with opportunities to apply their knowledge
|
Core
On successful completion of Applied Pathophysiology, students will undertake the following
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Foundations of Critical Care Nursing · 12.5 pts |
This subject provides the theoretical foundation for entry into specialty critical care nursing including emergency and intensive care. Students will gain essential knowledge to plan, monitor and evaluate nursing interventions, including how to recognise and respond to clinical deterioration and medical emergencies. Students will integrate essential knowledge explored in this subject and its pre-requisite, Applied Pathophysiology, with principles of patient assessment, scientific advances in treatment and management strategies including pharmacotherapeutics. Patient and family perspectives of acute illness and disease will be considered in the development and implementation of nursing interventions and inter-disciplinary care planning. |