The Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Cardiac) is a 36-unit course offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification and must be registered nurses in Australia.

However, the Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

In addition, applicants must have a minimum of one year post-registration experience (6 months of which should be in relevant clinical area) and must provide a supporting statement from their employer stating their willingness to facilitate the extended clinical practice components of the course within their workplace and/or provide evidence that an affiliated health agency will facilitate the clinical practice in a supernumerary capacity.

Course aims

The Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Cardiac) aims to:

  • facilitate development of specialised knowledge, skills and attributes for application in acute cardiac care environments
  • extend student knowledge in research for practice development

Learning outcomes 

In addition to the Learning Outcomes of the Graduate Diploma in Nursing, on completion of this course, students in the acute cardiac care nursing specialisation will be able to:

  • critically analyse the concepts and theory around recognition, response and management of the acute, complex and/or critically-ill deteriorating patient in an acute cardiac care setting
  • critique the evidence-based principles and practices in nursing that inform primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular disease
  • apply concepts and theories around recognition, response and management of the acute, complex and/or critically ill deteriorating patient in the acute cardiac care setting
  • demonstrate knowledge of the cardiovascular system, diagnostics and nursing assessment through management and care of adults experiencing acute cardiovascular conditions

Program of Study

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Cardiac) a student must complete 36 units as specified below with a grade of Pass or NGP or better in each topic.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or in 9 units or more, or failure to complete the course within four consecutive semesters may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • no topic may be attempted more than twice
  • a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken.

Not all topics will be available in any given year or semester

Specialisation - Cardiac - Core topics

18 units comprising:

NURS8740  Foundations for Responding to Clinical Deterioration Across the Lifespan (4.5 units)
NURS8741  Professional Experience in Resuscitation Across the Lifespan (PEP) (4.5 units)
NURS8744  Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (4.5 units)
NURS8745  Acute Cardiovascular Care (PEP) (4.5 units)

Core - Year 1 topics

18 units comprising:

NURS9123  Epidemiology and Population Studies for Health Care Practice (4.5 units)
NURS9124  Advanced Thinking, Communicating and Problem Solving for Health Professionals (4.5 units)
NURS9126  Leadership in Health Studies  (4.5 units)
NURS9219  Introduction to Research (4.5 units)