Study load
Approx. 12-15 hours per week* (see course structure)
Duration
9 months (60 credit points)
Intakes
Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Take your emergency nursing career to the next level and become a confident leader in emergency assessment and intervention.
By specialising in emergency care, you’ll be able to use your advanced clinical assessment skills to provide high quality care to patients in emergency settings. Throughout the course, you’ll examine key aspects of emergency patient care and nursing practice, whilst also developing your analytical, leadership and communication skills. You’ll develop essential skills to manage and prioritise these patients, and learn core concepts relating to acute illness, disease, and trauma.
Through a blend of online learning and supervised clinical practice, you’ll be supported to apply clinical skills to patients with urgent and complex care requirements. This structure will support your study-work-life balance, allowing you to flourish in the different aspects of your life. The Graduate Certificate in Health (Emergency Nursing) will prepare you for clinical leadership roles and enhance your professional practice capabilities.
Why you should do a postgraduate nursing course
With the health care and social assistance industry being the largest employing industry in Australia and demand for nurse unit managers expected to grow by 23.1% in 2026, now is a perfect time to pursue a postgraduate degree in this crucial field.
Course structure
Course structure
Students can only study one unit per semester. Please note that study load will vary depending on the amount of units you choose to study and the credit point cost of that unit.
12-15 contact hours are estimated for one 15 credit point unit, while 24-30 are expected for those studying two 15 credit point units or one 30 credit point unit.
Pathophysiology & Health Assessment For Advanced Practice
Code: HEALT6003
Contact Hours: 24-30 hours
Credit Points: 30
Principles of Care for the Emergency Patient
Code: HEALE6401
Contact Hours: 12-15 hours
Credit Points: 15
Emergency Nursing Practice
Code: HEALE6402
Contact Hours: 12-15 hours
Credit Points: 15
What you will learn
What you will learn
Principles of acute patient care
Gain advanced clinical assessment skills to provide safe and high-quality emergency care to patients of all ages.
Emergency nursing practice
Increase your confidence at providing care in an emergency setting. You’ll learn to apply your theoretical knowledge in a practical space, to advance your clinical reasoning and ability.
Advanced knowledge of pathophysiology
Develop an in-depth understanding of the major body systems and use this to support health assessments in a clinical setting.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
‘Please note: This course is for currently employed registered nurses working in an emergency nursing environment’.
Entry requirements
Applicants must have successfully completed a three-year (minimum) Bachelor level qualification in Nursing. You cannot enter based on Diploma level studies.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate current and satisfactory registration with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse and be working a minimum of 19 hours per week in current and ongoing employment in an emergency clinical setting.
Upon application, a current resume and letter of agreement from your hospital will be required.
Further study
The Graduate Certificate in Health (Emergency Nursing) provides a pathway into further studies at the Graduate Diploma or Masters level. Graduates receive credit for one unit (30 cpts) to continue into the Graduate Diploma of Health (Advanced Nursing). There is a further study pathway into the Master of Health (Advanced Nursing) which is focused on leadership skills.
Completion of the Master of Health provides a pathway into Doctoral studies with Federation University.
Support Services
Support Services
Be supported through your studies with services tailored to the online learning environment. Federation University Online personalises support for every student, accessible at every stage of your study journey.
- Student advisors dedicated to answering your questions about anything from enrolment and course management to essay writing and technical support.
- Online Learning Advisors (OLAs) guiding you through your course, bringing industry experience and expertise in online learning to your studies.
- Study and assignment resources to help you get the most out of each unit and submit high quality assessments.
- An online community made up of a diverse network of students, who you’ll study alongside in learning groups and discussion boards.
Flexible study requires flexible support – discover the services available to you so you can go further.
Career outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate of Health (Emergency Nursing) have a pathway into further post-graduate studies, at the Graduate Diploma or Masters level.
Emergency Care Nurse
Use your specialised skills to provide urgent care and management to patients who present to emergency departments and emergency care centres.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (Emergency)
Share your advanced nursing knowledge in order to support and provide care to the wider nursing team. You’ll be able to apply your skills in practice, as well as finding opportunities to optimise patient care.
Clinical Nurse Educator (Emergency)
Help other nurses gain the skills and knowledge to provide the best possible emergency care to their patients. You’ll utilise leadership and communication skills in this role.
I’ve absolutely loved it, even though I was really worried about studying again. But you make that decision and you make the commitment to do it and it just happens.
- Stacey Krahne, Federation University Graduate, Nursing
Discover Your Path in Nursing with Federation University Online!
Take the next step in your nursing career with our free, downloadable Nursing Career Road Map. This essential guide helps you explore which courses align with your current qualifications and outlines potential career outcomes. Uncover the best path to advance your career today.
Industry insights
With a Graduate Certificate in Health (Emergency Nursing), you will be equipped to improve your professional standing in emergency care based roles, including;
- Emergency department nursing
- Clinical nurse
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Clinical nurse educator
- Lead nursing opportunities
The demand for Clinical Nurses is on the rise, with a projected job growth of 13.9% over just the next five years.
The most common annual salary for a Clinical Nurse in Australia is $105,000.
The number of Registered Nurses is expected to grow very strongly over the next five years, increasing from 290,800 nation-wide to 331,200 by 2026.
Fees
2025 Indicative Fees
$2,314 student contribution amount (Commonwealth Supported Place) per certificate.
If you’re offered a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your fees (student contribution) are set on an annual basis by the government and are determined by the discipline area and band of your individual enrolled units, not the overall course. Each unit falls into a band which determines the student contribution amount.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and the indicative amount should be used as a guide only. Total cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
Other fees
You may need to pay some other fees such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Rated #1 across multiple categories
We’ve been #1 in Victoria for graduate outcomes for 6 years running in The Good Universities Guide annual university rankings.
Meet the people behind your course
Dr Blake Peck
Senior Lecturer
Blake Peck is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health. Blake’s main research interests relate to pediatric injury, the health workforce, childhood long-term illness and qualitative research theory. Blake has been widely published in journal articles relating to nursing and health, and his main teaching areas include research methods, pathophysiology of disease and pharmacology.
Dr Kerry Hood
Senior Lecturer
Kerry Hood is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health. Kerry has been published across numerous nursing journals and her research interests include interprofessional learning and teaching and learning pedagogy. Kerry’s main teaching areas include education, leadership and social determinants of health.
Erin Tanti
Lecturer
Erin Tanti is a Lecturer in the School of Health. Erin’s research areas relate to clinical education and leadership. Erin is both an undergraduate nursing lecturer and a post graduate lecturer in emergency nursing.
Why study online with Federation University?
Unparalleled Flexibility
Online study is the freedom to fit further study in your life, and to do it on your terms.
Personalised support
You will have full access to support services, with tailored support available across extended hours.
Make it happen online
You will make an impact in whatever you choose to do with practical- and industry- focused courses.