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HN4.OP - Graduate Certificate in Health (Peri-Operative Nursing)
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20270200
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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3.4
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Program
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Postgraduate Course
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Graduate Certificate in Health (Peri-Operative Nursing)
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Nursing
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<p>Perioperative nurses are an integral part of the multidisciplinary surgical and anaesthetic team.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>This six-month full time (or equivalent part-time) course will be delivered online, with all study support and learning resources also available from academic staff and learning skills advisors.</p><p>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.</p><p>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). </p><p>This enables our students to critically analyse and apply evidence based clinical reasoning within a real-life perioperative setting.</p><p>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.</p>
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PGCW
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60
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Graduate Certificate
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8 - Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
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0.5 year
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<p>Master of Health Course Coordinator; Michael Barbagallo</p>
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["Full time","Part time"]
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["Domestic"]
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3/4 HD and nothing less than a D
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<p>Students that achieve a grade of High Distinction (HD) in at least three quarters of the units they study in a teaching period and receive nothing less than a Distinction (D) in remaining units in that teaching period will receive a letter of commendation.</p>
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Fail any unit in a term
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<p>Students that fail a unit will be contacted via email with advice on required actions and referral to various Federation support services.</p>
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Fail > = 50% in a term OR fail a unit 2 times
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<p>Students who fail in 50 % or more of the units in which they are enrolled in any semester or who have not passed a unit after two attempts will be regarded as having unsatisfactory progress. They will be contacted via email and advised to contact their Course Coordinator to seek advice on how to address the issues that contributed to the result. </p>
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2 consecutive performance (%) unsatisfactory terms OR fail a unit 3 times
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<p>Following unsatisfactory progress in two consecutive semesters or failing a unit for the third time, students will be asked to show cause why they should not be suspended from the course. Unless a satisfactory response is received by the relevant Academic Progress Committee the student may be suspended from the course for a period of up to two years.</p>
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Marginal fail in final unit
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<p>Students who receive an MF grade in their final Semester may apply to the Course Coordinator within 7 days of the publication of results for supplementary assessment if that unit is the only outstanding unit required to complete the degree and the student has not been found guilty of any form of academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, contract cheating, collusion) in that Semester. The highest grade attainable will be a Pass grade.</p>
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<p>Successful completion of an Australian Bachelor Degree, or overseas equivalent.</p>
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Academic requirements
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<p>This course recognises relevant non-formal and informal prior learning and experiences, as long as you meet the admission eligibility rules and procedures, and any RPL unit exclusions.</p>
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Semester 1 entry course structure
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Additional costs
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Credit, pathways, and recognition of prior learning
Hidden Page Items
Semester
Semester
0200
Year
Year
2027
Current Year
2026
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Handbook
HN4.OP - Graduate Certificate in Health (Peri-Operative Nursing)
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HN4.OP - Graduate Certificate in Health (Peri-Operative Nursing)
Breadcrumb Type
Course
Catalogue Term and Year
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Semester
Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Semester
Year
2027
2026
RDS Holder
Overview
Key information
Entry requirements
Course rules
Course structure
Course learning outcomes
Credit, pathways, and recognition of prior learning
Parent Region
Overview
Course overview
<p>Perioperative nurses are an integral part of the multidisciplinary surgical and anaesthetic team.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>This six-month full time (or equivalent part-time) course will be delivered online, with all study support and learning resources also available from academic staff and learning skills advisors.</p><p>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.</p><p>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). </p><p>This enables our students to critically analyse and apply evidence based clinical reasoning within a real-life perioperative setting.</p><p>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.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Nursing
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Study load:
Full time<br />Part time
Credit points:
60
AQF level:
8 - Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
Duration (in full time equivalent):
0.5 year
Domestic students:
<p><strong>Location</strong></p><p>Federation University Online</p>
Course coordinator:
<p>Master of Health Course Coordinator; Michael Barbagallo</p>
Entry requirements
Domestic students
Applicants with higher education study
Academic requirements
<ul><li>Successful completion of bachelor’s degree at AQF level 7 in a cognate discipline in Health and currently working in a relevant field in at least 0.6 FTE (full-time equivalent)</li></ul>
Course rules
Course rules show the number and type of credit points needed to finish your course. They help you understand what you need to complete to graduate. You’re responsible for following the course rules and completing the right units. You’ll find a recommended sequence of units that meets these course rules in the course structure.
Course rules
Complete 60 credit points comprising:
60
credit points from
Core Units
Core Units
Complete exactly 60 credit points from the following:
Code
Title
Credit points
HEAAN6602
Advanced Pathophysiology for Acute Care Nursing
15
HEAAN6603
Advanced Health Assessment for Acute Care Nursing
15
HEALO6401
Principles of Care for the Perioperative Patient
15
HEALO6402
Perioperative Nursing Practice
15
Academic progress regulations
Commendation
<p>Students that achieve a grade of High Distinction (HD) in at least three quarters of the units they study in a teaching period and receive nothing less than a Distinction (D) in remaining units in that teaching period will receive a letter of commendation.</p>
Counselling
<p>Students that fail a unit will be contacted via email with advice on required actions and referral to various Federation support services.</p>
Unsatisfactory
<p>Students who fail in 50 % or more of the units in which they are enrolled in any semester or who have not passed a unit after two attempts will be regarded as having unsatisfactory progress. They will be contacted via email and advised to contact their Course Coordinator to seek advice on how to address the issues that contributed to the result. </p>
Exclusion / suspension
<p>Following unsatisfactory progress in two consecutive semesters or failing a unit for the third time, students will be asked to show cause why they should not be suspended from the course. Unless a satisfactory response is received by the relevant Academic Progress Committee the student may be suspended from the course for a period of up to two years.</p>
Final unit supplementary assessment
<p>Students who receive an MF grade in their final Semester may apply to the Course Coordinator within 7 days of the publication of results for supplementary assessment if that unit is the only outstanding unit required to complete the degree and the student has not been found guilty of any form of academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, contract cheating, collusion) in that Semester. The highest grade attainable will be a Pass grade.</p>
Course structure
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.federation.edu.au/students/student-essentials/how-to-enrol/what-to-enrol-in/">Course structures</a> set out the recommended sequence of units for enrolment. It's your responsibility to comply with the course rules and confirm unit availability (which you'll find under 'Offering' in the 'Key information' section of each unit outline).</p> <p>Select the semester you started your course in (not the semester you're enrolling for).</p>
Semester 1 entry course structure
Year 1
Semester 1
HEAAN6602
Advanced Pathophysiology for Acute Care Nursing
Core Units
15
HEAAN6603
Advanced Health Assessment for Acute Care Nursing
Core Units
15
Semester 2
HEALO6401
Principles of Care for the Perioperative Patient
Core Units
15
HEALO6402
Perioperative Nursing Practice
Core Units
15
Course learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates will be able to:
Course learning outcomes
Ref
Outcome
<p>1</p>
<p>Demonstrate sound knowledge of the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of conditions and patients presenting to peri-operative environments</p>
<p>2</p>
<p>Critically evaluates and interprets health assessment data gained from nursing assessments and diagnostic findings to evaluate therapeutic interventions to inform ongoing nursing priorities, interventions and evaluation of care</p>
<p>3</p>
<p>Integrates advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the assessment, management, interpretation and evaluation health interventions and treatments utilised in the peri-operative environment to treat life threatening illness or injury</p>
<p>4</p>
<p>Demonstrates collegiality, effective leadership, and teamwork within an interdisciplinary team to deliver evidence-based, patient- and family-centered care in a peri-operative environment, while engaging in lifelong learning and reflective practice to stay current with digital and non-digital healthcare advancements</p>
Credit, pathways, and recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning
<p>This course recognises relevant non-formal and informal prior learning and experiences, as long as you meet the admission eligibility rules and procedures, and any RPL unit exclusions.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Nursing
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Study load:
Full time<br />Part time
Credit points:
60
AQF level:
8 - Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
Duration (in full time equivalent):
0.5 year
Domestic students:
<p><strong>Location</strong></p><p>Federation University Online</p>
Course coordinator:
<p>Master of Health Course Coordinator; Michael Barbagallo</p>
Additional information
Cards Section - Non Research
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: HN4.OP - C3.4/MK2.3/O4.1/R2.2