Why study the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing with UTS Online?
Ranked #3 in Australia for Academic Reputation in Nursing and Midwifery1
Learn practical skills from experts in acute care nursing for real-world relevance
Balance study and career in 8 months with intakes every other month and focusing on one subject at a time
100% online with personalised support from enrolment through to graduation
1QS Top Uni Ranking 2025
Join the frontline of patient care
The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing is your gateway to becoming an influential and responsive leader in advanced clinical settings. With a focus on developing cutting-edge skills in leadership, clinical practice and evidence-based nursing, this course is designed to deliver culturally competent person- and family-centred care.
You'll learn to evaluate and integrate reliable evidence, analyse the facilitators and obstacles to data-driven practices, and prioritise the best possible health outcomes and patient safety. The course also offers a chance to enhance your skills in physical assessment, communication, early detection, patient management and response in acute deterioration, while keeping up with the latest advancements and best practices in accordance with industry standards.
Delivered 100% online, with regular intakes every two months, this course enables you to balance your work and family commitments while learning the critical skills and clinically-based learning strategies to improve the core competencies associated with person-centred care. Immediately apply what you learn to make a greater impact in your current role and future-proof your career.
Who is this course for?
The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing is a contemporary course for Registered Nurses seeking to enhance their expertise in acute care nursing. Practitioners attracted to this course work in a variety of acute care settings. These settings include hospital clinical areas such as high-dependency units or acute care units/wards, e.g. (medical surgical wards, cardiology, neurology stroke units, transplant units and other acute care nursing specialty areas). Developed in consultation with industry stakeholders and expert clinicians this course enables a focused pathway to advance your nursing career in acute care settings.
This course is ideal for:
- Registered nurses in acute, critical or emergency care.
- Nurses transitioning into ICU, ED or high-dependency units.
- Healthcare professionals seeking advanced clinical decision-making.
- Nurses aiming to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based care.
- Professionals committed to continuous learning in acute care.
See entry requirements under course information for more eligibility information.
What you will study
The UTS Online Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing comprises four online subjects (24 credit points (CP) in total).
On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing, you will have the opportunity to progress to the Master of Advanced Nursing course.
Complete all of the following subjects:
- Specialty Clinical Practice
- Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration
- Evidence for Informing Practice
- Nursing-Sensitive Indicators in Acute Care
Note: Most UTS Online subjects are valued at 6 credit points each. For detailed subject descriptions and further information, please download a course guide.
Flexible course options
The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing comprises 4 online subjects (24 credit points (CP) in total).
Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing may qualify to advance to the Master of Advanced Nursing, requiring only 4 additional subjects to complete the master's degree.
Graduate Certificate
4 Subjects | 8 months
Or continue studying
Master's
+4 Subjects | 24 months
Graduate with a Master's degree
For more information, download your course guide or speak with a Student Enrolment Advisor.
Study pathways
The School of Nursing and Midwifery offers 4 online Graduate Certificate courses – the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing, the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing, the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care and the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education – that articulate into the Master of Advanced Nursing.
This provides you with the opportunity to choose a specialisation pathway that is most aligned with your career goals.
Learning outcomes
Deliver evidence-based acute care in high-pressure environments
Apply the latest clinical research and guidelines to assess, manage and treat patients in acute and emergency settings. Develop critical thinking skills to provide rapid, high-quality interventions in complex situations.
Enhance clinical decision-making and leadership
Strengthen your ability to make informed, timely decisions in acute care. Build foundational leadership skills to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and optimise patient outcomes in dynamic healthcare settings.
Provide ethical, safe and patient-centred acute care
Develop expertise in delivering compassionate and culturally responsive care to critically ill patients. Advocate for patient rights, safety and best-practice interventions in diverse and fast-paced healthcare environments.
Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary acute care teams
Refine your communication and teamwork skills to work seamlessly with healthcare professionals in high-pressure scenarios. Develop the confidence to contribute to innovative acute care practices and improve patient outcomes.
Course information
Entry requirements
Completion of a UTS recognised nursing (FOE 0603) academic qualification or an equivalent (according to NOOSR or UK NARIC) as follows:
- Bachelor’s degree, or
- Graduate Certificate, or
- Graduate Diploma, or
- Master’s degree or equivalent
Applicants must also satisfy the following:
- Hold current registration as a Registered Nurse in Australia (AHPRA), and
- Be currently employed as a registered nurse in a hospital-based setting (or provide a letter of offer to commence employment as a registered nurse by commencement of study), and
- Have a minimum of one year full-time (1800+ hours) post-registration clinical experience (Nursing) demonstrated through a CV and Statement of Service*
Applicants are required to provide a Statement of Service on an official letterhead from their workplace’s human resource department (or equivalent) which verifies they have 1800 hours post-registration clinical experience.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
Want to check your eligibility?
Not only do we have the right tools and support teams to help you – we have people who care about your success.
Career outcomes
The UTS Online Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing equips registered nurses with the expertise to provide high-quality care in acute and complex healthcare settings. This course builds your clinical skills and prepares you to thrive in fast-paced environments.
Upon completion, graduates can explore roles such as:
- Acute Care Nurse Specialist
- Clinical Nurse Consultant (Acute Care)
- Nurse Team Leader
- Senior Registered Nurse (Acute Care)
$110,000
Average salary
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing can expect an average annual salary of $110,000, based on roles such as Acute Care Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Consultant (Acute Care) and Nurse Team Leader.
(Indeed)
70,000 +
Shortfall by 2035
Australia is expected to face a shortage of over 70,000 nurses by 2035, underscoring the urgent need for skilled nursing leadership and education.
(Australian Nursing & Midwifery Journal)
15%
of the workforce in Healthcare
Healthcare and social assistance make up 15% of Australia’s workforce, highlighting the growing demand for nurses in this essential sector.
(Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Upcoming intakes
UTS Online courses have 6 intakes per year. The diagram below shows all upcoming intakes. Our next intake is highlighted below.
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Meet our Course Director
“Students choose UTS to study the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing because of our innovative, high quality and engaging program of study.
Students can choose to study from a variety of specialty courses to advance their career and benefit from the flexibility of the online learning experience supported by our dedicated teaching team”.
Dr Carmen Axisa PhD (Medicine), MClinN, BN, RN. Senior Lecturer
Download a course guide
Download a course guide to explore detailed subject descriptions, entry requirements, pathway options and fee information.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, to enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing at UTS Online, you must hold current registration as a nurse in Australia.
Generally, you are required to demonstrate one year of post-registration clinical experience to enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing. Pro-rata, this is equivalent to 1800 hours. In some circumstances, the Faculty may assess your work experience and capability on a case-by-case basis.
If you have completed relevant study at an AQF level of 8 (i.e. graduate certificate or graduate diploma) or higher, you might be eligible to receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing. To see if you’re eligible, speak with one of our Student Enrolment Advisors.
While the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing is delivered 100% online, assessments are highly practical and often applied to your workplace. To enter the course, you are required to be employed in a healthcare setting, as you will need to utilise your clinical environment to complete subject activities and assessment tasks.
No, placements are not required when studying the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing. However, you must already be employed as an RN in a healthcare setting to fulfil the practical components of the course.
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing are equipped to take on leadership and advanced practice roles such as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Acute Care Coordinator, (Clinical) Nurse Educator (or equivalent), Clinical Nurse Consultant or Nurse Unit Manager.
Assignments in our subjects are authentic, relevant and often grounded in your personal clinical context. They vary according to the subject and include, but are not limited to clinical reports, posters, online quizzes and vivas (oral assessment), podcasts, recorded presentations, education tools, proposals, protocols and professional portfolios. You will not be required to complete exams or group assignments to graduate the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing.
Studying the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing at UTS Online provides access to a flexible and interactive platform. Highlights include:
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Modules tailored to acute care practices and real-world scenarios
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A study schedule designed for working professionals in healthcare
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Resources like video tutorials, practical tools, and peer collaboration opportunities
Here’s a video example showcasing key features of our online learning platform, including tools designed to enhance your study experience.
For practical tips on balancing your studies with work and life, click here to learn how to achieve your goals. Remember, our team is just an email or call away to support you every step of the way.