Study load
Approx. 15+ hours per week* (see course structure)
Duration
9 months (60 credit points)
Intakes
Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Fees
$2,369 * per year
Evolve your perioperative career with tailored expertise.
Evolve your perioperative nursing career with Federation University’s Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) – delivered online. This flexible, career-focused course is designed for registered nurses working in perioperative settings who want to deepen their clinical expertise and advance their professional standing.
Whether you’re caring for patients pre-, intra- or post-operatively, this certificate will equip you with the advanced skills and confidence to thrive in surgical environments.
Why choose this course?
- 100% online study – Designed for busy nurses, this course is 100% online so you can fit it around your work schedule.
- Tailored for perioperative nurses – Designed specifically for nurses working in surgical settings, this course builds on your existing experience to help you specialise and grow.
- Advanced clinical skills – Develop high-level assessment and care capabilities for perioperative patients, guided by expert academics and health professionals.
- Safety and standards focus – Learn to apply global, national and local safety standards in perioperative care environments.
- Career advancement – Boost your employability and open doors to leadership roles in perioperative nursing.
Professional recognition
This course supports career progression for registered nurses and aligns with AHPRA standards for perioperative practice.
Your future in perioperative nursing
By completing this fully online certificate, you’ll graduate with the confidence and capability to deliver expert care in surgical settings. Whether you’re looking to specialise, lead, or continue into further postgraduate study, Federation University Online will support your journey every step of the way.
Applications now open. Take the first step toward advancing your perioperative nursing career. Apply today or book your free consultation today with our course advisors.
Course structure
Course structure
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.
Principles of Care for the Perioperative Patient
Code: HEALO6401
Contact Hours: 12-15 hours
Credit Points: 15
Perioperative Nursing Practice
Code: HEALO6402
Contact Hours: 12-15 hours
Credit Points: 15
An inquiry-based learning framework contextualised through clinical experience will enable students to critically analyse and apply evidence-based clinical reasoning within the perioperative setting for the safe and effective care of the patient experiencing surgical intervention
Pathophysiology & Health Assessment For Acute Care Nursing
Code: HEAAN6602
Contact Hours: 12-15 hours
Credit Points: 15
Advanced Health Assessment for Acute Care Nursing
Code: HEAAN6603
Contact Hours: 12-15 hours
Credit Points: 15
What you will learn
What you will learn
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.
Core principles of perioperative nursing
Learn to deliver safe and high quality, collaborative care for the pre-, intra- and post-operative patient.
Perioperative nursing practice
Apply advanced level clinical reasoning in perioperative settings. You’ll examine global, national and local safety standards that provide guiding principles of quality care.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Please note: This course is for currently employed registered nurses working in a perioperative 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 0.5 EFT current and ongoing employment in an appropriate perioperative setting.
Upon application, a current resume and letter of agreement from your hospital will be required.
Further study
The Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) provides a pathway into further studies at the Graduate Diploma or Master’s 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.
Fees
Fees
2026 Indicative Fees
$2,369 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.
Fee assistance
As a Commonwealth Supported Place student, you may be eligible to defer payment of your student contribution through the HECS-HELP loan scheme. Please visit our HECS-HELP webpage for further information.
Other fees
You may need to pay some other fees such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
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.
Learn moreCareer outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate of Health (Perioperative Nursing) have a pathway into further postgraduate studies in related disciplines, at the Graduate Diploma or Master’s level.
Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) will enhance your professional standing and provide you with advanced level skills and knowledge for application as a leader in the perioperative nursing community.
Please note: this course does not lead to registration as a health professional.
Work in a specialist surgical environment
Use your advanced knowledge to provide essential care and support in a variety of surgical settings.
Work in a day-procedure environment
Provide high-quality care to patients who present for surgical intervention in a day-procedure environment.
Pathway to Graduate Diploma or Masters in related discipline
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) might like to use this as a pathway into further postgraduate studies, such as the Master of Health (Advanced Nursing).
Federation University Online’s postgraduate courses have been ranked #1 in multiple categories
Federation University Online offered the course I was after, within a time frame that suited me. The online platform provided by Federation University Online was easy to navigate, with a wide range of online resources, with links to up-to-date articles and journals. The industry experience of the teaching staff was also quite helpful.
– Uwa Imhagwe, Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) Student
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 (Perioperative Nursing), you will be expertly equipped to provide care in pre-, intra- and post-operative phases in surgical environments such as:
- Specialist surgical environments
- Day-procedure environments
- Surgical environments
Clinical nurses – particularly those who have advanced practice knowledge – are in high demand, with roles expected to grow by 13.9% over the next 5 years alone.
The most common annual salary for a Clinical Nurse in Australia is $110,000.
The Health Care and Social Assistance sector is Australia’s largest employer, and is expected to add the most jobs—301,000—by November 2026.
Fees
2026 Indicative Fees
$2,369 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.
Fee assistance
As a Commonwealth Supported Place student, you may be eligible to defer payment of your student contribution through the HECS-HELP loan scheme. Please visit our HECS-HELP webpage for further information.
Other fees
You may need to pay some other fees such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Why study Nursing at Federation University Online?
A Federation University Online Nursing degree equips you with the skills to confidently deliver care to our health system’s most urgent and critical patients.
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.
A Day in the Life of a Perioperative Nursing Student
We caught up with Uwa Imhagwe, a Federation University Online student who is close to completing a Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing). In this interview, Uwa described her passion for nursing, her motivations for going back to university, and her experience of studying online.
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.