Course summary
The role of the primary health care and general practice nurse is expanding and evolving. In line with current health reforms, nurses now occupy positions of advanced practice and leadership in primary care settings.
The Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Nursing prepares nurses for these roles. The course is designed for registered nurses either working, or wishing to work in the primary health care environment, including general practice.
Through studies in primary health care practice and philosophy, managing chronic and complex health conditions, and clinical reasoning and assessment, students gain skills and experience in primary healthcare, consolidating their clinical and professional knowledge.
The course will expand and extend a student's scope of clinical practice, and may be particularly suited to nurses working across diverse environments, including working in regional and rural Australia, or nurses who wish to advance their careers in primary health care.
The course includes studies in primary health care practice and philosophy, managing chronic and complex health conditions, and gaining skills in clinical reasoning and assessment.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Exercise critical thinking, judgement (and in some courses research processes) in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence |
| Creativity | Apply knowledge and skills creatively in health and community related challenges |
| Ethical practice | Demonstrate well developed judgement and use of ethical framework(s) in primary health care situations |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Demonstrate an advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in primary health care settings |
| Lifelong learning | Reflect on, assess and regulate their own learning and research capabilities and performance with personal autonomy and accountability Locate, analyse, evaluate, manage and use information from a range of sources with an emphasis on evidence based primary health care |
| Communication and social skills | Communicate to demonstrate understanding of theoretical concepts and to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences Work in collaboration with others and in a team to achieve self-determined goals |
| Cultural competence | Demonstrate an understanding of Indigenous Australian contemporary realities and protocols Demonstrate cultural competence in incorporating individual's cultural perspectives into health care provision |
Course overview
Course code
1008103
Course abbreviation
GradCertPHCN
Credit points
48
Equivalent units
4
Domestic duration
8 months part-time
International duration
0.5 years full-time
Course requirements
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
To be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Nursing a candidate shall successfully complete all units listed in the Schedule of Units.
Schedule of units
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NRS81003 - Primary Health Care Practices and Philosophy | Introductory | ||
| NRS82002 - Management of Chronic and Complex Health Conditions | Intermediate | ||
| NRS82001 - Clinical Reasoning and Assessment Skills | Intermediate | ||
| NRS82003 - Enhancing and Expanding Practice | Intermediate |