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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.

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Two women in lab coats examining a tablet together, engaged in a discussion in a laboratory setting.
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A nurse with a stethoscope near a large glass window.

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.

CORE SUBJECTS

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. 

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A group of healthcare professionals in a meeting.

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.

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Master of nursing pathway

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

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.

English Language Requirements
Recognition of Prior Learning
FEE-HELP

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.

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A man smiles while working on a laptop, showcasing a positive and engaged expression.

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)
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Health career

$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.

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

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Professional portrait of Dr. Carmen Axisa, PhD (Medicine), MClinN, BN, RN, Senior Lecturer and Course Director for this course.

Download a course guide

Download a course guide to explore detailed subject descriptions, entry requirements, pathway options and fee information.

By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by UTS regarding furthering your education.Privacy Policy.

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What our students are saying
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“The broad coverage of what I studied has been really helpful, because I’m opening my progression up to those new paths”

Sarah H, Master of Advanced Nursing - Student

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“My Associate Professor gave me such good feedback to help with my assessments and offered to stay in touch about my further studies if I was interested. I really appreciated that.”

Audrey B, Master of Advanced Nursing - Student

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“The flexibility to be able to do it any time, anywhere, just made completing the Masters so much easier.”

Bianca N, UTS Online Student

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:

  • Modules tailored to acute care practices and real-world scenarios

  • A study schedule designed for working professionals in healthcare

  • 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.

Related courses

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Explore your study options with UTS Online

Schedule a call with our team to discover how UTS Online can support you in reaching your goals.

Our Student Enrolment Advisors can assist with: 

  • Courses and pathway options 
  • Course fees and FEE-HELP 
  • Entry requirements and recognition of prior learning (RPL)
  • Preparing your application 

Ready to apply? Take the next step in your career by clicking the 'Apply now' button below.

Acknowledgement of Country

 

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.