Graduate Certificate of Palliative Care Nursing

The Graduate Certificate of Palliative Care Nursing offered to registered nurses employed at St Vincent’s Health Australia is developed and delivered in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame Australia. It provides a career pathway for registered nurses to gain postgraduate qualifications in palliative care nursing and is not only ideal for nurses seeking to specialize in palliative care but also for generalist nurses aiming to enhance their capabilities in caring for patients diagnosed with life limiting illness regardless of the healthcare setting.

This comprehensive program emphasizes holistic, person-centred approach, integrating effective communication, cultural and spiritual sensitivity, assessment and symptom management, and the application of evidence-based practices. Through four integrated courses, students will explore the principles and standards of palliative care, engage in empathetic communication that supports shared decision-making with patients, families, and healthcare teams, manage complex symptoms using both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, and apply research findings to improve nursing practice.
This program combines the expertise of academic and clinical industry leaders to offer a blended learning approach that emphasizes evidence-based practices and equips nurses with the advanced skills needed to provide compassionate, high-quality palliative care, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney (SVHS) offers two focused post graduate courses that articulate with the University of Notre Dame’s (UNDA) postgraduate program:

  • Person Centred Approach in Palliative Care Nursing
  • Clinical Management in Palliative Care Nursing

UNDA offers the following two courses:

  • Evidence based practice
  • Contemporary palliative care nursing practice.

Features of the Course

  • Hybrid delivery: This course is delivered in a hybrid model with study materials, lectures, weekly discussions, drop-in sessions and talks by expert practitioners.
  • Educational and Clinical Support: Emphasis is placed on adult learning principles, which encourage individuals to take accountability and responsibility for personal and professional development. The Nurse Educator’s responsibility is in teaching participants effective learning strategies such as independent and/or self-directed learning. This type of learning contributes to personal and professional growth, promotes lifelong learning, and enables the individual to pursue excellence in patient care.
  • Study Days: study days are allocated for focused learning across both SVHS courses. Content of these Study Days is designed to complement the theoretical content of tertiary programs. Teaching and learning strategies may include lectures and tutorials, discussions, assessments, self-directed learning opportunities and presentations. 

Partnership with University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA)

The graduate certificate in Palliative Care nursing is delivered in partnership with UNDA. To complete the program students must undertake a total of four (4) courses:

1.Contemporary Palliative Care Nursing Practice (offered by UNDA)

Course description

This course on contemporary palliative care nursing practice provides a comprehensive exploration of palliative care, clearly distinguishing it from end-of-life care and emphasizing its vital role within the healthcare system. The course is structured into four key modules: foundational knowledge of palliative care, its proactive integration into patient management early in the disease trajectory, the ethical and legal frameworks that guide palliative care, and approaches to advanced care planning, including terminologies, legal and ethical considerations, and strategies for implementation. Through these modules, the course aims to equip nurses with the essential skills and knowledge needed to incorporate palliative care effectively in various healthcare settings. 

2. Evidenced Based Practice (offered by UNDA)

Course description

This Course develops students’ understanding of how an evidence-based framework and the contextualised application of research findings is integral to the practice of nursing. The course explores concepts associated with the inquiry process (ask, acquire, appraise, and apply) and the quality and appropriateness of research findings for translation into nursing knowledge and practice. The course introduces foundational research and evidence-based practice methods, including developing a clinical question, searching literature, identifying study designs, critical appraisal of the evidence, and identifying and applying frameworks that support the translation of evidence into nursing knowledge and practice. Students will gain an appreciation for applying research evidence in the context of patient and family values and the organisational, ethical and policy environments

3. Person Centred Approach in Palliative Care Nursing (offered by SVHS)

Course description

This course aims to enhance the practical skills necessary for providing high-quality, compassionate palliative care. It focuses on the essential elements of effective communication, the principles and practices of person-centred care, and the cultural, spiritual, and psychosocial considerations critical to palliative care. Additionally, it addresses the importance of self-care for health professionals to manage burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral distress. Through a combination of theoretical learning and practical application, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to optimize person-centred care in diverse palliative care settings

4. Clinical Management in Palliative Care nursing (offered by SVHS)

Course description

This course provides an in-depth exploration of symptom management, focusing on comprehensive patient assessment and the holistic approach to care. Students will learn to utilize various assessment tools, understand the management of pain and respiratory symptoms, and address gastrointestinal and other common symptoms encountered in palliative care. The course integrates both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to manage complex symptoms effectively and improve the quality of life for palliative care patients.

The course “Contemporary palliative care nursing practice” is a prerequisite for the two SVHS courses, Person Centred approach in palliative care nursing and Clinical Management in Palliative Care nursing, and should be done prior to undertaking or concurrently with the SVHS courses.

Course Duration

The SVHS Palliative Care Nursing courses commence in February and conclude in November of each year; courses are undertaken sequentially throughout the year.

UNDA courses can be completed either concurrently with the SVHS courses or within 24 months from the acceptance into the Postgraduate Palliative Care Nursing Program.

Nomenclature of Award

On successful completion of the St Vincent’s Hospital Postgraduate Palliative Care Nursing Courses a SVHS Certificate of Clinical Nursing Practice is awarded by St Vincent’s Hospital. The successful completion of the four courses will result in a Graduate Certificate of Palliative Care Nursing awarded by UNDA.

Student Selection Criteria

The selection of SVH Postgraduate Palliative Care Nursing Course students is based on academic and employment suitability, following online application and successful interview at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.

Essential criteria

To be eligible for enrolment in this course, Registered Nurses must:

  • Have an undergraduate degree in nursing or equivalent qualification
  • Be currently registered as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Health Professionals Regulation Agency
  • Have a minimum of 12 months nursing experience at the course commencement date.

Applicants are NOT required to be working in a specialised palliative care unit to undertake this study. 

Cost

The two courses delivered by SVHS are fee-free for St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney students. These two courses attract fees for staff external to SVHS at the rate of commonwealth supported places for eligible staff.

The application process for this will be through enrolment in UNDA for the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing.

Fees do apply for two university offered courses at the rate of commonwealth supported places for eligible students. Students may also be eligible for FEE-HELP, a student loan initiative from the Australian Government www.studyassist.gov.au/help-loans/fee-help 

Scholarships

To financially assist students, St Vincent’s Hospital Division of Nursing offers a defined number of scholarships in an endeavour to support nurses to undertake tertiary based Post-Graduate study that relate to clinical specialties at St Vincent’s Hospital.

For further information, please contact the Nurse Manager of Education tele: 02 8382 2322

Scholarships are also available through various other organisations, such as the NSW Department of Health and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association

Applications

Applications are accepted by SVHS twice per year, closing COB 5th January and 16th June 2025.

SVHA applicants are required to complete an expression of interest via https://forms.office.com/r/vSMMcEsB0V

Applicants external to St Vincent’s Hospital are welcome to submit an enquiry to the Nurse Educator for Palliative care. They can also apply to the graduate certificate in palliative care nursing through admissions, University of Notre Dame Australia.

For further enquires please contact:

Sherin Easo| Nurse Educator
T 02 8382 2484 | M 0402732700 E Sherin.Easo@svha.org.au