Why Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation Program)?
Advance your nursing career with specialised expertise.
Designed exclusively for SA Health employed Registered Nurses, this graduate certificate in nursing offers an opportunity to deepen your clinical knowledge and leadership skills.
Through part-time online study over one year, you'll explore various clinical specialisations, enhancing your ability to deliver high-quality patient care across diverse healthcare settings.
You’ll also gain advanced practical skills and knowledge to develop your understanding of the global issues, trends and practices that impact the delivery of nursing and health services.
Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation) at Adelaide University is designed exclusively for Registered Nurses employed by SA Health who have been endorsed by their employer to study. Delivered part-time and fully online, you’ll build your knowledge of leadership, governance and advanced nursing practice across a range of clinical specialties.
Over one year, you’ll study two in-depth courses selected from areas such as perioperative care, mental health, aged care, high acuity nursing and more. Each course is backed by academic research and guided by experienced clinicians.
Eligible nurses can apply for a scholarship that covers the first course, and high-achieving students may be funded to complete the full graduate certificate.
Whether you’re preparing to step into a specialist area or want to bring new leadership and evidence-based practice into your current role, this graduate certificate offers a flexible, career-focused way to grow your impact in the healthcare system.
Key features
Advance your nursing career through a SA Health endorsed qualification. - Access a fully funded course supported by SA Health.
- Study flexibly online with 24/7 access to interactive course materials.
- Choose clinical specialisation courses that suit your career goals.
- Learn from expert clinicians and leading nursing researchers.
- Build leadership skills and strengthen your evidence-based practice.
What you'll learn
In the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation) you’ll get advanced practical skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare. You'll explore topics such as healthcare leadership, policy analysis and specialised clinical care, aligning your studies with your career aspirations.
Learn about how social, political and economic factors influence care delivery in Australia’s healthcare system and build skills in leadership, policy analysis and healthcare governance.
You’ll complete two nine-unit courses, selected from a broad range of options so you can align your studies with your clinical interests and career goals. Courses include:
- Perioperative Nursing
- Comprehensive Care of the Older Person
- Palliative Care Nursing
- Perspectives in Mental Health Practice
- Nephrology Nursing
- Introduction to High Acuity Nursing and Midwifery, with subspecialties in Neonatal and Acute Care
- Leadership and Management in Nursing and Midwifery
- Foundations of Teaching and Learning in Health Education.
Each course combines theory with practical knowledge to help you deliver safe, informed and evidence-based care.
By engaging with evidence-based practices, you'll enhance your ability to contribute meaningfully to patient care and healthcare delivery.
Degree Structure: Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation Program)
Program code: GCNUS
Complete 24 units comprising:
- 24 units for Core courses
Study plan
A study plan sets out the courses you will need to complete and the recommended timing for each one. This will help to guide your enrolment in each study period, alongside any additional information provided below. If you have received a personalised plan or alternative advice from your Program Director, please refer to that guidance in the first instance, or seek help from your Program Director or Student Assist if you are unsure.
Enrolment information
Find details about the rules and notes that apply to your program, along with other essential information required for successful enrolment. Supplementary supporting resources may also be provided where applicable.
Courses
Listed here are all the courses that contribute to your program, including elective options that can be chosen. These courses come together to form your study plan. Courses fall into different categories, each of which have specific unit values that need to be met under the program rules.
What courses you'll study
Complete 24 units comprising:
- 24 units for Core courses
Complete 24 units for either of the following:
- 24 units from Clinical courses, or
- 24 units for all Critical Care Nursing courses
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Perspectives in Mental Health Practice
|
Course code
NURS5026
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Perinatal Mental Health for Health Professionals
|
Course code
NURS5030
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Skills for Recovery Practice in Mental Health
|
Course code
NURS5031
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Best Practice in Adolescent Mental Health
|
Course code
NURS5032
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Best Practice in Older People's Mental Health
|
Course code
NURS5033
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Teaching and Learning in Health Education
|
Course code
NURS5038
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Implementing Teaching and Learning in Health Education
|
Course code
NURS5039
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Leadership and Management in Nursing and Midwifery
|
Course code
NURS5062
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Nephrology Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5065
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Perioperative Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5066
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to High Acuity Nursing and Midwifery
|
Course code
NURS5067
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Palliative Care Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5073
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Comprehensive Care of the Older Person
|
Course code
NURS5124
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Critical Care Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5125
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Decision-Making for Midwifery and Nursing Practice
|
Course code
NURS5171
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostics and Investigations
|
Course code
NURS6904
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Practice
|
Course code
NURS6905
|
Units
12
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Essentials in Critical Care Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5007
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Critical Care Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5125
|
Units
12
|
Your program team
Dr Allison Roderick
Academic Lead, Postgraduate Nursing
College of Health
School of Nursing and Midwifery
