Graduate Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Nursing

Course overview

The aim of this course is to encourage professional and ethical understanding of evidence based clinical practice development in drug and alcohol nursing. It will provide students with an understanding of substance use issues from both an individual and public health perspective. The course covers assessment, treatment and nursing care of clients experiencing drug and alcohol dependence.

The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve patient outcomes through the coordination and provision of patient centred care in this growing speciality.

Students complete 4 core units of study.

Career outcomes

A Graduate Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Nursing is an investment in your future and will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure better outcomes for your patients and progress your career, leading to opportunities in clinical education, management and specialist nursing roles.

Learning outcomes

At successful completion of the course students should be able to:

• apply critical thinking/clinical reasoning skills to the assessment of the drug and alcohol patient, linking specialist theory to holistic clinical practice
• demonstrate specialist knowledge in the use of pharmacotherapies and psychosocial interventions for the treatment of clients in the context of drug and alcohol nursing practice
• critically examine to apply current evidence-based research, including government policy and strategy, to enhance clinical decision-making skills and care planning in the context of drug and alcohol nursing practice
• develop advanced communication skills in order to establish therapeutic relationships with patients, families and the multidisciplinary team to promote a holistic approach to drug and alcohol nursing care
• develop leadership, mentoring and educational skills to contribute to high standard drug and alcohol nursing practice, and facilitate quality improvement in this area
• critically reflect on the role of personal values and ethics as central to the development of culturally safe practice in drug and alcohol nursing practice.

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Nursing is a one year course, consisting of four 10-week terms.

Students will need to complete 4 core units. One unit is studied per term.

Approximate hours of study are 12 – 15 hours per week.

Fees

Fees are subject to change without notice.

ACN offers a flexible payment option allowing students to pay their fees on a term-by-term basis. Each term’s fees are due upfront, prior to term commencement.

FEE-HELP is also available for eligible students.

Entry requirements

Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Nursing must have at least one years’ work experience in drug and alcohol nursing or a related field.

In addition, applicants must satisfy any pre-requisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria. All applicants seeking admission are required to:

• hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse* equivalent qualification
• be currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
• have a minimum of one year postgraduate experience
• be currently employed in an appropriate clinical setting.

*For some GC units of study, consideration may be given for applicants who are not registered nurses on an individual basis.

Meet your Nurse Educators

Ruth Green MACN, Nurse Educator – Higher Education

RN, MN (Clin Teach), Grad Cert (Clin Teach), Cert Orthopaedic Nursing (NSWCN), Cert IV TAE, Cert IV WHS

Ruth co-coordinates both our Graduate Certificates in Drug and Alcohol Nursing and Orthopaedic Nursing.

Ruth has been nursing for over 30 years, mainly in orthopaedics and education, where her passion lies.

Ruth is passionate about lifelong learning and sees education as a key component to ensuring quality nursing care, improved patient outcomes and nurse satisfaction.

Mevin Paulose, Nurse Educator – Higher Education

RN, BScN with Honours, MN (Clin Teach), Cert in Teaching Fundamentals, Cert IV TAE

Mevin coordinates both our Graduate Certificates in Drug and Alcohol Nursing and Orthopaedic Nursing with fellow educator Ruth Green.

Mevin has primarily worked in maternal-infant health and education, where her passion lies. She also has experience in public health nursing.

Mevin is passionate about education and believes that it enables nurses to use reflective and evidence-based practice to provide holistic, culturally safe, and positive patient outcomes in the healthcare setting.