Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing (GC-PAEN)

Overview

Award title	Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing
Year & campus	2025 — Parkville
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Graduate Coursework
AQF level	8
Credit points	50 credit points
Duration	12 months part-time

The Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing delivers theoretical content through a combination of on-line study and a supervised clinical practice subject at their employing hospital.

Students complete 50 credit points of study part-time, over a year, with 3 on-line subjects, over the 4 teaching periods and a supervised clinical practice subject at their employing hospital across the 3 latter teaching periods.

Links to further information

Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing - The University of Melbourne (unimelb.edu.au)

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• either
– a Master of Nursing Science, or
– a Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent qualification);
and
• at least one year of documented clinical experience as a Registered Nurse working in an acute or sub-acute healthcare service within the preceding five years from the time of application; and
• current unrestricted registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (courses with clinical components only); and
• Clinical support from a partnering health service and be employed a minimum of three (3) days or 24 hours per week for the standard course duration in a clinical setting that will provide the relevant clinical experience to meet course learning outcomes

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee entry.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance; and
• relevance of speciality practice and clinical experience

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university's English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of its subjects. The University is dedicated to providing support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this course, graduates should be able to:

Apply advanced knowledge of the scientific evidence that underpins paediatric nursing
Apply knowledge of human pathophysiology across the continuum of care to safely and effectively provide paediatric care that addresses actual and potential disease and treatment related health needs
Assess and analyse the health data of patients from newborn to adolescence, to identify common paediatric health problems
Plan, implement and evaluate specialist paediatric nursing care that meets the specific supportive care needs and experiences of paediatric patients and their families in the healthcare setting
Communicate effectively with other members of the interprofessional healthcare team, patients and their families to facilitate effective, individualised, family centred and culturally appropriate plans for care
Employ effective specialised technical skills in the delivery of paediatric nursing care which align with the competency standards for specialist paediatric nurses.

Generic skills

On completion of this course, graduates should have the following generic skills:

A capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in oral and written modes of communication
A capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work
Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
An ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature

An appreciation of the ways in which advanced knowledge equips the student to begin to develop leadership skills

Graduate attributes

The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:

Academically excellent:

have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies

Knowledgeable across disciplines:

examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment

Leaders in communities:

initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
mentor future generations of learners
engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs

Attuned to cultural diversity:

value different cultures
be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values

Active global citizens:

accept social and civic responsibilities
be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics

Course structure

The course is a 50 credit point program which follows the structure below with mandated subject options.

Subject options

Core Subjects

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
NURS90076	Applied Pathophysiology	January (Online) June (Online)	12.5
NURS90084	Foundations in Paediatric Nursing	April (Online)	12.5
NURS90088	Paediatric Nursing	June (Online)	12.5
NURS90097	Paediatric Nursing Practice	April (Off Campus)	12.5

Further study

Students may progress to the Masters of Advanced Nursing Practice.

Last updated: 27 February 2025