Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Bridging & Re-entry)

Gain the practical skills and knowledge needed to practice as a registered nurse in Australia.

This qualification is designed for previously registered Australian nurses who wish to re-enter the workforce.

You will study online and attend on campus workshops, learning in our clinician-led, authentic, simulated hospital and health service (HHHS).

Clinical placement will also prepare you for a rewarding career in one of the most important sectors of healthcare.

What you'll need Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements.

These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.

Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.

On entry to the qualification you will be required to confirm that you meet the ‘Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements’ requirements.

Entry requirements

Applicants must provide:

• Evidence of prior registration as a nurse with a Nurse Registration Authority in Australia within the last 10 years; and
• A letter of approval from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to undertake a NMBA approved re-entry program. The referral must be current for the duration of the program to be undertaken by the applicant.

Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements. Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.

On entry to the qualification you will be required to confirm that you meet the ‘Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements’ requirements.

This graduate certificate will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to work as a registered nurse in Australia.

You’ll review the Australian healthcare system along with the legal and ethical principles related to nursing, mental health, Aboriginal health, acute aged care and nursing research.

Other topics include the development of professional and inter-professional communication and relationships. In addition to this, you will look at the lifespan approach to physical examination, primary healthcare and disease prevention, caring for clients with complex conditions and also take part in skills development and simulation activities.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for learning activities. Depending on your study mode this may include online discussion forums, virtual classroom sessions, lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects. As a general rule most postgraduate study is completed part-time and if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally-focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

Learn from award-winning teaching staff, academics and health professionals via our online forums and virtual classrooms and during on-campus workshops, offering you the opportunity to learn from experienced clinicians in the field and build valuable industry networks and relationships.

We have clinical arrangements with local health and rural health networks, major hospitals, healthcare providers, aged care services and mental health services, in the private and public sectors.

We also host regular University-wide employee master classes and employment expos, and alumni events in Australia and overseas.

Your career

Nurses play a key role at the forefront of healthcare service, with their contribution to client care imperative for the wellbeing of today's society.

Graduates can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as:

• hospitals
• primary health and community support services
• aged/rehabilitative care
• schools
• home care
• drug/alcohol services
• community health organisations
• palliative care services
• child and adolescent health services.

Applying to study with us:

• check you meet the full entry requirements for this program
• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.

As a nursing student, you will have access to our unique clinician led, authentic simulated hospital and health service on campus, and practice your skills with state-of-the-art interactive manikins.