Graduate Certificate of Nursing (Gerontics)

Course code: 2922 + Course abbreviation: GradCertNur(Ger) + Total credit points required: 24 + 2 semesters part-time

Study mode and course location

Off-campus (Gippsland; Peninsula – P/T only)

Course description

This course, offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, has been specifically designed to assist registered nurses in the practice of caring for older clients across a broad variety of acute, post-acute and residential aged-care clinical environments. The course also assists registered nurses who wish to research and further understand the phenomenon of the ageing process and health potential and deficits commonly associated with ageing.

Course objectives

On completion of this course, graduates should be able to: 1. confront the ageism which disempowers elderly people and those caring for them; 2. challenge dominant assumptions about health and old age, individual control over health and individual awareness of health; 3. explore influencing practice variables such as society’s attitudes, demographic factors, political pressures and economic restraints; 4. promote preventative, rehabilitative, and palliative care practice interventions associated with the contemporary holistic and humanistic approach to aged health care; 5. develop/enhance the specific clinical skills required of the gerontic nurse specialist; 6. stimulate critical appraisal of contemporary aged health care by engaging in reflective practice; and 7. demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between aged care and palliative care nursing roles and services.

Course structure

The course consists of the following two 12-point core units offered over two semesters.

NUR6201 Gerontological nursing practice
NUR9203 Palliative care nursing practice

Assessment

To satisfy assessment requirements, it is expected that students will network with practitioners and agencies in the field of gerontic nursing. Students will be required to perform a health assessment on an older person in their clinical environment or in an area of nursing practice approved by the course coordinator.

Assessment includes assignments, examination, fieldwork report, literature review and contribution to computer conferencing activities.

Contact details

Peninsula: administrative officers (postgraduate): telephone: +61 3 9904 4156; fax: +61 3 9904 4655 or visit www.med.monash.edu/nursing/postgraduate/

Course coordinator

Ms Joan Yalden

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