The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) is committed to facilitating the professional development of our nursing staff. The RMH is one of Victoria’s largest hospitals providing a comprehensive range of health services including acute, sub-acute, general and specialist medical services.
Application closing dates for our 2023 programs are being extended. Please visit our recruitment page for details about specific program streams and dates.
About the programs
We have a proud history of supporting nurses in postgraduate programs in a variety of clinical areas, with the guidance and support of skilled clinical educators and our multi-professional team.
The RMH is affiliated with the following tertiary institutions for provision of our postgraduate nursing programs.
- The University of Melbourne (UoM)
- Deakin University
- Australian Catholic University (ACU)
- La Trobe University (LTU)
- University of Tasmania (UTAS)
As a postgraduate student at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, you will be supported and mentored by the Nursing Education Department (including clinical nurse educators), preceptors and our specialty clinical staff. We aim to build teams that embrace and reflect The Melbourne Way – We put people first, lead with kindness and work together, we excel as one Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Streams on offer in 2023
Nurses wishing to undertake a clinically supported postgraduate certificate at the RMH must be accepted and enrol into one of the courses listed below. These courses are endorsed by the RMH. Enrolment into postgraduate programs outside of those listed below will not supported by the RMH Nursing Education Department.
Please note that all stream availabilities are subject to change.
Virtual information sessions
Several virtual information sessions are scheduled to showcase our 2023 postgraduate and RISE programs. These information sessions will help you gain a greater understanding into our patient cohorts, frequent presentations, specialty area interests and program overview. Clinical nurse educators from each specialty will be available to answer any questions you may have about both postgraduate and RISE programs.
Virtual information session 1: Wednesday 10 August 4.30 - 5.45pm
Virtual information session 2: Friday 12 August 10.00 - 11.15am
Virtual information session 3: Wednesday 17 August 4.30 - 5.45pm
Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship Program
The Royal Melbourne Hospital is proud to announce the RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship (PGNS) Program will be offered again in 2023. All RMH nurses enrolled in the postgraduate study in 2023 will be invited to apply for a scholarship. Successful scholarship applicants will be eligible to use funding for university course fees. For further information visit the postgraduate nursing program page.
Need more information?
For further information please contact the Post Graduate Nursing program coordinator by emailing postgraduatenursing@mh.org.au
The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing is designed to assist nurses in developing higher-order clinical reasoning and problem solving skills, specialised clinical proficiency and exceptional communication skills required to care for the complex acutely unwell patient in their clinical practice area.
Acute Care nurses utilise current evidence to analyse and critique care delivery, and apply new knowledge based on evidence to clinical practice, to positively impact patient outcomes and our communities.
The Acute Care post graduate qualification provides nurses with the opportunity to extend their current level of clinical competence, clinical reflection, professional and therapeutic communication; while maintaining professional integrity and ethical standards of care, to comprehensively assess and manage care of patients and their families within a multidisciplinary team.
The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing will be clinically supported by the RMH Nursing Education Department in the following clinical areas / wards in 2023:
- Acute Medical Unit (AMU)
- General Medicine (5SE)
- Respiratory Care Unit/Medical Unit (5SW)
- Infectious Diseases ward (9E)
- Emergency General Surgery (3S)
- Colorectal Hepatobiliary Surgery (3SW)
- General Medicine and Gastroenterology (5N)
- Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) & Plastics (7SE)
- Orthopaedics (7SW)
- Vascular, Opthalmology, Urology, BOE (9W)
Please state which department you are applying to complete the acute care postgraduate course within your cover letter.
Course details
- Course commencement date is Monday 27 February 2023
- Commonwealth supported places will be available for applicants to apply
- Program length is 12-months
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship Program
- Participants are employed on one of the medical, surgical or trauma wards listed above
- The RMH Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated clinical nurse educators will support students in this transition into advanced acute care nursing.
The La Trobe University Postgraduate Nursing team is holding a Master of Nursing webinar on August 9 2022 at 6pm. Please join the webinar for further information.
Sample Course Structure
Subject code | Subject title | Credit points |
| LTU0AIM | Academic Integrity Module | 0 |
| NSM4CNE | Critical Nursing Essentials | 15 |
| NSM4001 | Advanced Health Assessment | 15 |
| NSM4SNP | Specialist Nursing Practice | 30 |
| ||
More information
For further information see the La Trobe Master of Nursing website.
APPLY NOW
The Graduate Certificate of Nursing Practice (GCNP) - Cardiac Care is designed to prepare nurses to meet contemporary challenges in cardiac nursing and interventional cardiology within the specialist field of critical care nursing and to progressively build upon knowledge and skills required to comprehensively care for critically ill patients. The GCNP is conducted with our affiliate university, Deakin University.
The Cardiac Care course is campus based (subject to COVID-19 educational delivery restrictions) and offered online through Cloud. Applicants must be currently employed or application successful when applying for this course.
The GCNP (Cardiac Care) is a four (4) credit point, part-time, clinical coursework program. It consists of four (4) subjects completed over a twelve (12) months.
Course details
- Course commencement date is Monday 13 February 2023
- Enrolment into Masters of Nursing Practice through Deakin University is required, with exit points at Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diplmona levels
- Commonwealth supported placed will be available for applicants to apply
- International student fees are equal to domestic student fees in 2023 - $12,200 (full fee paying)
- Program length is 12-months
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship Program
- Participants are employed on Ward 2B (Cardiology) while completing the course
- The RMH Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated clinical nurse educators will support students in this transition into critical care (cardiac) nursing.
Sample Course Structure
Trimester 1
HAI010 Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
HNN751 Advanced Physiology and Patient Assessment* |
HNN752 Core Principles of Care for the Critically Ill Patient* |
Trimester 2
HNN765 Cardiac Care Nursing 1* |
HNN775 Cardiac Care Nursing 2* |
For further information about read about GCNP - Cardiac Care on the Deakin University website.
Apply now
The RMH Cardiothoracic ward is a 30 bed ward compromised of 12 high dependency unit (HDU) beds and 18 stepdown beds. The knowledge and skills you acquire from the course will enable you to delivery specialised nursing care for post-operative patients who have had heart and lung surgery, in both the ward and the HDU environment. ward has a positive and vibrant team culture and a reputation for delivering nurse-led, high acuity care. This makes it an excellent and challenging learning environment.
The Graduate Certificate of Nursing Practice (GCNP) - Cardiac Care is designed to prepare nurses to meet contemporary challenges in cardiothoracic nursing and interventional cardiology within the specialist field of critical care nursing and to progressively build upon knowledge and skills required to comprehensively care for critically ill patients. The GCNP is conducted with our affiliate university, Deakin University.
Some of the opportunities provided within this course include:
- 3 week supernumerary rotation to ICU
- Day in theatre observing cardiac surgery
- Day in Catheter Laboratory observing interventional cardiology
- The opportunity to visit recently discharged patients with the cardiothoracic hospital in the home nurse, providing you with comprehensive experience of the post-operative patient's care journey
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program.
The Cardiac Care course is campus based (subject to COVID-19 educational delivery restrictions) and offered online through Cloud. Applicants must be currently employed or application successful when applying for this course.
The GCNP (Cardiac Care) is a four (4) credit point, part-time, clinical coursework program. It consists of four (4) subjects completed over a twelve (12) months.
Course details
Course Structure - Level 1
Trimester 1
HAI010 Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
HNN751 Advanced Physiology and Patient Assessment* |
HNN752 Core Principles of Care for the Critically Ill Patient* |
Trimester 2
HNN765 Cardiac Care Nursing 1* |
HNN775 Cardiac Care Nursing 2* |
For further information about read about GCNP - Cardiac Care on the Deakin University website.
The RMH Cardiac Catheter Laboratories caters for patients undergoing elective and emergency cardiac procedures with a 24/7 on call service. Procedures include Coronary Angiogram, Pacing, Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), complex congenital structural intervention and a world leader in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
The Graduate Certificate of Nursing Practice (GCNP) - Cardiac Care is designed to prepare nurses to meet contemporary challenges in cardiac nursing and interventional cardiology within the specialist field of critical care nursing and to progressively build upon knowledge and skills required to comprehensively care for critically ill patients. The GCNP is conducted with our affiliate, Deakin University.
The Cardiac Care course is campus based (subject to COVID-19 educational delivery restrictions) and offered online through Cloud. Applicants must be currently employed or application successful when applying for this course.
The GCNP (Cardiac Care) is a four (4) credit point, part-time, clinical coursework program.
It consists of four (4) subjects completed over a twelve (12) months.
Course details
- Enrolment into a Master of Nursing Practice through Deakin University is required, with exit points at Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma levels.
- Program length is 12 months
- The Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated Clinical Nurse Educators will support students in this transition into critical care (cardiac) nursing.
- Participants are employed in the Catheter laboratories whilst completing the course
- Course commencement date is Monday the 13th of February International student fees are equal to domestic student fees in 2023 - $12,200 (full fee paying)
- Commonwealth Supported Places will be available for applicants to apply
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program
Sample Course Structure
Trimester 1
| HAI010 | Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
| HNN751 | Advanced Physiology and Patient Assessment* |
| HNN752 | Core Principles of Care for the Critically Ill Patient* |
Trimester 2
HNN765 | Cardiac Care Nursing* |
|---|---|
| HNN775 | Cardiac Care Nursing 2* |
For further information about GCNP - Cardiac Care visit the Deakin University website.
APPLY NOW
The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing (Emergency) (GCCNEM) is only open to internal applicants at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department is a busy and unique workplace whose team provides a high level of acute care in a multi-disciplinary setting. We are a Level 1 Adult Trauma and tertiary referral centre, with over 85,000 presentations annually. The service provides assessment, investigations and treatment of all patients who present and is part of a designated Major Trauma Service and has a high acuity case mix with an emphasis on Trauma, Infectious Disease, Chest Pain Evaluation, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
A department centred on research, teaching and staff development, our staff have valuable opportunities to participate in postgraduate training, clinical programs and mentoring and professional development.
As a highly sought after program we have an ongoing commitment to internal professional development and as such we do not have any external positions available to the January 2023 intake.
If you are a registered nurse external to RMH with at least 1 year acute experience and would like to apply for a Grade 2 position into the RMH ED with the potential to join our 2023 mid-year program, please click the link below to submit your application:
Apply now
The GCNP (Emergency) is conducted with our affiliate university, the University of Melbourne (UoM). It is a fifty (50) credit point, part time, clinical coursework program completed over twelve (12) months.
The GCCNEM is designed to assist students to develop the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to understand the practice of providing care to individuals experiencing emergency care. The program is delivered through a variety of teaching modalities including lectures, tutorials, clinical simulation and online study.
Course details
- Enrolment into a Graduate Certificate through the University of Melbourne is required.
- The Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated Clinical Nurse Educators will support students in this transition into Critical Care Nursing (Emergency)
- Applicants must have minimum of 1 year ED experience to apply.
- Open to internal applicants only
- Course commencement date is Monday the 9th of January 2023
- Domestic student fees are $11024
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program.
Sample Course Structure
Year 1 Total 50 Points | January 12.5 Points | Core Applied Pathophysiology 12.5 Points | |
March 25 Points | Core Emergency Nursing 1 12.5 Points | Core Emergency Nursing Practice 12.5Points | |
Semester 2 12.5 Points | Core Emergency Nursing 2 12.5 Points |
Find our more about GCNP (Emergency) offered through UoM.
As partners in the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC), the Haematology/BMT ward care for patients with blood cancer and other blood disorders. The Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing is offered with our affiliate University the University of Melbourne. It is a fifty (50) credit point, part time, clinical coursework program completed over twelve (12) months.
You will develop a sound understanding of the theory and scientific advances that underpin the comprehensive care and management of people affected by cancer. You will apply this knowledge to clinical practice, demonstrating the ability to competently care for patients with complex care requirements using evidence-based and scientific approaches.
Course details
- Enrolment into a Graduate Certificate through the University of Melbourne is required.
- The Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated Clinical Nurse Educators will support students in this transition into advanced haematology and BMT nursing
- Applicants must have minimum of 1 year acute nursing experience to apply.
- Course commencement date is Monday the 9th of January 2023
- Domestic student fees are $11024
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program
Course Structure
Applied Pathophysiology | 12.5pts |
Foundations in Cancer Nursing | 12.5pts |
Cancer Nursing Practice 1 | 6.25pts |
Cancer Nursing Practice 2 | 6.25pts |
Haematology Nursing 1 | 6.25pts |
Haematology Nursing 2 | 6.25pts |
Read more about Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing offered on the University of Melbourne website.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital Intensive Care Unit is a state of the art 42 bed capacity ICU and a part of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) precinct caring for patients with:
- Haematological emergencies
- Obstetric emergencies
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Respiratory failure
- Renal failure
- Sepsis and multi organ failure
- Infectious disease
The Graduate Certificate of Nursing Practice (GCNP) - Intensive Care course is designed to prepare nurses to meet contemporary challenges in intensive care nursing within the specialist field of critical care nursing, and to progressively build upon knowledge and skills required to comprehensively care for critically ill patients. The GCNP is conducted with our affiliate university, Deakin University.
The Intensive Care course is campus based (subject to COVID-19 educational delivery restrictions) and offered online through ‘Cloud’. Applicants must be currently employed or application successful when applying for this course.
Course details
The GCNP (Intensive Care) is a four (4) credit point, part-time, clinical coursework program. It consists of four (4) subjects completed over a twelve (12) months.
- Enrolment into a Master of Nursing Practice through Deakin University is required, with exit points at Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma levels.
- Program length is 12 months.
- The Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated Clinical Nurse Educators will support students in this transition into Intensive Care Nursing.
- Applicants must have minimum of 1 year acute nursing experience to apply.
- Course commencement date is Monday the 13th of February
- International student fees are equal to domestic student fees in 2023- $ 12,200 (full fee paying)
- Commonwealth Supported Places will be available for applicants to apply
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program.
Course Structure - Level 1
Trimester 1
HAI010 Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
HNN751 Advanced Physiology and Patient Assessment* |
HNN752 Core Principles of Care for the Critically Ill Patient* |
Trimester 2
HNN765 Intensive Care Nursing 1* |
HNN775 Intensive Care Nursing 2* |
For further information about read about GCNP - Intensive Care Nursing on the Deakin University website
The RMH Department of Neurology and Stroke is an internationally recognised centre for world class patient care. Collectively the Neurology ward (8B) and the Neurosurgery ward (4S) provide care for patients with a range of complex conditions including the following:
- Neuro-oncology (gliomas, pituitary tumours)
- Neurotrauma ( major head and spinal trauma and surgery)
- Subarachnoid haemorrhage
- Ischaemic stroke (surgical and medical management)
- Epilepsy
- Hyperacute stroke (including 24 hour stroke service)
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (GCCN) is conducted with our affiliate, the Australian Catholic University (ACU). This course is designed to prepare nurses for specialty practice at an advanced practice level. A variety of teaching modalities are utilised in delivering education including lectures, tutorials, clinical simulation, online learning and worksheets. The GCCN (Neuroscience) is a forty (40) credit point, part-time, clinical coursework program. It consists of four (4) subjects completed over a twelve (12) months
- Enrolment into a Graduate Certificate of Clinical Nursing through ACU is required
- Program length is 12 months
- The Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated Clinical Nurse Educators will support students in this transition into advanced Neurosciences Nursing
- Participants are employed on either Neurology (8B) or Neurosurgery (4S) whilst completing the course. Please state which ward you are applying to complete the course within in cover letter
- Course commencement date is Monday the 27th of February 2023
- Domestic student fees in 2023- $ 10540 (full fee paying)
- Commonwealth Supported Places may be available for applicants to apply
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program
| Unit Code | Credit Points | Unit Name | Prerequisites | Facilitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSRG 633 | 10 | Clinical Nursing | Nil | Facilitated by RMH |
| NSRG 635 | 10 | Extended Clinical Nursing | NSRG 633 | Facilitated by RMH |
| NSRG 636 | 10 | Foundations of Specialty practice 1 | Nil | Facilitated by ACU |
| NSRG 637 | 10 | Foundations of Specialty practice 2 | NSRG 636 | Facilitated by ACU |
Read more about GCCN - Neurosciences on the ACU website.
Apply now
The RMH Perioperative Services consist of 16 theatres and 25 Recovery bays, a day procedure unit (DOSA), Elective Surgery and Pre-admission clinic. The RMH Perioperative service caters for all major types of adult surgery.
The Graduate Certificate of Nursing Practice (GCNP) - Perioperative course is designed to prepare nurses to meet the complex challenges within the speciality practice area of perioperative nursing and to progressively build upon knowledge and skills to explore the specific roles within perioperative nursing practice. The course responds to the demands of industry and partnership/collaborating hospitals by preparing nurses with sophisticated perioperative specialty skills and knowledge. The GCNP is conducted with our affiliate university, Deakin University.
The Perioperative course is campus based (subject to COVID-19 educational delivery restrictions) and offered online through Cloud. Applicants must be currently employed or application successful when applying for this course.
Course Details
The GCNP (Perioperative) is a four (4) credit point, part-time, clinical coursework program. It consists of four (4) subjects completed over a twelve (12) months.
Enrolment into a Master of Nursing Practice through Deakin University is required, with exit points at Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma levels.
- Program length is 12 months.
- The Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated Clinical Nurse Educators will support students in this transition into Perioperative Nursing.
- Participants are employed in the Perioperative Department (Scrub Scout or Anaesthetics/Recovery whilst completing the course. Please state which department you are applying to complete the course within in cover letter
- Participants must have minimum 1 year Perioperative Nursing experience to apply
- Course commencement date is Monday the 13th of February
- International student fees are equal to domestic student fees in 2023 - $ 12,200 (full fee paying)
- Commonwealth Supported Places will be available for applicants to apply
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program.
Sample Course Structure
Trimester 1
HAI010 Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
HNN755 Core Principles of Perianaesthesia Nursing Care* |
HNN740 Core Principles of Intraoperative Nursing Care* |
Trimester 2
HNN742 Principles of Complex Perianaesthesia Nursing Care* |
HNN743 Principles of Complex Intraoperative Nursing Care* |
Please note recent changes to the Deakin Perioperative course include options for the following specialisations:
- Certificate in Perioperative Nursing
- Certificate in Perioperative Nursing (Perianaesthesia*)
- Certificate in Perioperative Nursing (Intraoperative)*
Read more about the GCNP (Perioperative) on the Deakin University website.
The RMH Nursing Education Department and Kidney care service offer supported clinical study for the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Renal) affiliated with the University of Tasmania.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Renal) is designed to enhance students advanced critical thinking and clinical decision making in Renal Nursing. The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (GCN) in collaboration with RMH aims to create an educational environment which values critical, reflective thinking and life-long learning.
The Renal service is a nationally recognised comprehensive service caring for all aspects of acute and chronic kidney disease, renal transplantation, dialysis (haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis). The transplantation service is the second largest in Australia and our dialysis services support the largest number of satellite units throughout Victoria. Our post graduate participants will develop specialised skills within our inpatient renal/transplant ward, haemodialysis unit and home dialysis service with clinical rotations offered in each of these areas.
Course Details
The GCN (Renal) course is a 50 credit point, part-time, clinical course-work program. It consists of four (4) subjects completed over twelve (12) months.
- Enrolment into a Graduate Certificate in Nursing through UTAS is required
- Program length is 12 months.
- The Nursing Education Department including experienced, passionate and dedicated Clinical Nurse Educators will support students in this transition into advanced Renal Nursing.
- Participants are employed in the Renal Ward (6SW) with opportunity to complete a rotation through the dialysis ward (6W) and satellite dialysis unit
- Participants must have minimum 1 year acute nursing experience to apply Course commencement date is Monday the 20th of February 2023
- International student fees are equal to domestic student fees in 2023- $ 8475 (full fee paying)
- Commonwealth Supported Places will be available for applicants to apply
- Applicants can apply for the 2023 RMH Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship program.
Sample Course Structure
Unit code | Subject name |
CNA 562 | Foundations of Renal Nursing |
CNA 573 | Contemporary Renal Replacement Therapy |
CNA576 | Self Management in Renal Nursing |
CNA 772 | Interpreting Patient Deterioration |
CNA 782 | The Illness experience |
Selection of EITHER CNA772 or CNA782 - further direction provided by Renal Education team
Read more about the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Renal) on the University of Tasmania website.