Specialisation : Cardiac Care

Credit points

20

Specialisation available at

• Online

Additional information

Patients with acute and chronic cardiac conditions experience complex physiological changes, multiple comorbidities, and significant psychosocial and cultural impacts across the continuum of care. Specialist cardiac nurses play a pivotal role in delivering safe, high-quality, and people-centred care through advanced clinical decision-making, from early assessment and acute cardiac management to rehabilitation, chronic disease management, and transition to community or palliative care.

The cardiac specialisation units in the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing (Cardiac Care) support the development of advanced bioscience knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional capability required for specialist cardiac nursing practice. They prepare registered nurses to critically analyse the role and scope of the specialist cardiac nurse in improving patient and family outcomes. Students integrate advanced bioscience concepts with evidence-based practice to inform complex clinical decisions, while examining the physical, psychosocial, and cultural impacts of cardiac illness and comorbidities on patients and their families.

The units emphasise advanced clinical reasoning to design, justify, and evaluate evidence-based, people-centred care that responds to variations in cardiac patients’ health status. Students critically apply principles of interprofessional collaboration and shared decision-making to deliver culturally safe, equitable, and responsive care to diverse populations. Through critical evaluation of complex ethical challenges and contemporary cardiac nursing practices, and reflective examination of professional leadership, students are equipped to lead evidence-based practice, uphold professional standards, and advocate for safe and ethical care within complex cardiac care environments.

Admission requirements

Completion requirements

This Specialisation consists of 20cp.