Course summary
The role of the primary health care and general practice nurse is expanding and evolving. In line with current health reforms, nurses now occupy positions of advanced practice and leadership in primary care settings.
Our Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Nursing is designed for busy registered nurses who want access to further professional development.
Through studies in primary health care practice and philosophy, managing chronic and complex health conditions, clinical reasoning and assessment, you gain skills and experience in the particular world of primary health care, consolidating their clinical and professional knowledge. In bringing you up-to-date with the latest clinical and professional initiatives, this course recognises, supports and broadens the important contribution that nurses make in our communities.
It's also a stepping stone to further postgraduate study, research, advanced practice nursing or to the role of Nurse Practitioner in primary health care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. This year we are joining the WHO in celebrating the Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020, by sharing the stories and successes of the Southern Cross nursing and midwifery community.
Domestic snapshot
| Duration | Location | Study Period |
|---|---|---|
8mths P | Online | 2 |
The course includes studies in primary health care practice and philosophy, managing chronic and complex health conditions, and gaining skills in clinical reasoning and assessment.
Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence |
| Creativity | Apply knowledge and skills creatively in health and community related challenges |
| Ethical practice | Demonstrate well developed judgement and use of ethical framework(s) in primary health care situations |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Demonstrate an advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in primary health care settings |
| Lifelong learning | Reflect on, assess and regulate their own learning and research capabilities and performance with personal autonomy and accountability Locate, analyse, evaluate, manage and use information from a range of sources with an emphasis on evidence based primary health care |
| Communication and social skills | Communicate to demonstrate understanding of theoretical concepts and to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences Work in collaboration with others and in a team to achieve self-determined goals |
| Cultural competence | Demonstrate an understanding of Indigenous Australian contemporary realities and protocols Demonstrate cultural competence in incorporating individual's cultural perspectives into health care provision |
A variety of assessment methods is used in this course including multiple choice examinations, short answer examinations, essay examinations, case studies, tutorial and workshop presentations, debates, written assignments, simulations and clinical skills testing.
For each unit there are usually two to three assessment items.
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
Our online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
This course can be a pathway into further postgraduate study, research, advanced practice nursing or to the role of Nurse Practitioner in primary healthcare.