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Graduate Certificate in Health (Peri-Operative Nursing)

Perioperative nursing is a fast-paced nursing specialty, requiring a broad level of skill and ability to meet the care needs of patients and their families in the high acuity, technical environment of the Operating Suite.
This course is only offered at one location, see below.
Federation University Online
Location
Semester 1
Semester 2
Other intakes
Federation University Online
Semester 1
-
Semester 2
-
Other intakes
Teaching Period 2, 2025
Teaching Period 3, 2025
Teaching Period 4, 2025
View all semester start dates
Length
0.5 Year full-time or part-time equivalent
(60 credit points = 0.5 EFTSL)
Entry requirements

Perioperative nurses are an integral part of the multidisciplinary surgical and anaesthetic team.

The Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) is a technical skill-building course designed to strengthen critical thinking skills, guide the development of hands-on abilities and reinforce the importance of communication within the wider team in providing safe, quality care for pre, intra and post-operative patients.

Core subjects introduce students to the foundations of perioperative nursing and collaborative care, providing critical skills needed to monitor and identify risks in a range of patient states, and to safely navigate any ethical factors related to patients presenting for surgical intervention.

Students will also be supported to evaluate and apply the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN) Standards for Perioperative Nursing and ACORN Competencies, the National Safety & Quality in Health Care Standards and NMBA professional standards.

This six-month full time (or equivalent part-time) course will be delivered online, with all study support and learning resources also be available from academic staff and learning skills advisors.

In addition to the online coursework, an inquiry-based learning framework has been developed – in cooperation with our industry partners – whereby all theories and class content are contextualised through clinical experience.

Therefore, all students enrolled in this course must be currently registered nurses practicing in an associated clinical area (i.e., Hospital Theatre, Day Procedure Unit). This enables our students to critically analyse and apply evidence based clinical reasoning within a real-life perioperative setting.

For registered nurses currently practicing in another area of healthcare will be provided with an opportunity to enter the Intensive Care nursing domain and to undertake this course in parallel.

  • Peri-operative nurse

A wide range of career opportunities are available upon graduation in operating rooms and post-anaesthesia care units.

Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.

Year 1

You’d be looking at about 25-30 hours per week (if you’re full time), but this includes on-campus classes and self-directed study (i.e. homework).

N/A

Entry requirements (non year 12)

An applicant must have successfully completed a three year (minimum) Bachelor level qualification in a related health cognate discipline area.

Extra requirements

Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Health (Peri-Operative Nursing) is contingent upon the candidates ability to demonstrate current and satisfactory registration with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse and a minimum of 0.6 EFT current and ongoing employment in an appropriate peri-operative setting. 
Applicants must supply a current resume with their application.

Direct application: Yes

Federation University code: HN4

Fees are subject to change annually.

Please contact studentfees@federation.edu.au for fee information
 

Other fees

You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Fee assistance

If you're eligible for FEE-HELP, you can defer payment of your tuition fees (up to HELP loan limit). If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.

Scholarships

There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.

Your previous studies might count towards this course (which means you could finish it sooner). Use our credit search to find out if that’s the case.

This course offers a pathway into further studies at Graduate Diploma level courses.  Graduates are eligible to continue further studies in a Graduate Diploma of Health.

IT requirements

To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.

Got questions?

Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.

Student support

The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.

The fine print

The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.

Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.

Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.

School department

Nursing

Course co-ordinator

Michael Barbagallo