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Why I chose the Australian College of Nursing for my Critical Care study
After doing some research on my options, I started the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing at the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). I found it useful that they are the only college that offers a mid-year intake for an acute care/emergency line, and because the outline of their units was user-friendly with minimal overlapping.
When I started the graduate certificate, I expected a tough time of drowning in assignments, struggles with balancing work and study, and a stressful year of always having to be online and interactive 24/7 with the unit to achieve a passing mark.
That was the image my fellow nurses painted for me when preparing me for my graduate certificate year. None of the nurses around me did their graduate certificate through ACN… and that was the main difference in our experience.
What my critical care experience was actually like
My graduate certificate year was filled with nothing but excitement, connection, and improved nursing practice.
First and foremost, the educators and unit facilitators were always an email away and were always happy to give a helping hand, plenty of encouragement and clear communication to help me with my assignments.
Secondly, the units were presented in the most user-friendly, enjoyable method any online course can be presented as. They had weekly education modules, regular small quizzes to keep the learning interesting, and a very involved online discussion platform that helped connect with our students and stay in touch with teachers and unit coordinators.
So, it is safe to say, ACN has cracked the code for online learning and made graduate certificates ever more appealing.
However, the main aspect of the graduate certificate that got me wanting to document my positive experience with this course, is the everlasting impact it had on my career and my passion for continuous learning.
After completing the graduate certificate, I developed the capacity to push myself into more advanced roles within my emergency department. I have since started my triage training and commenced triaging as a fully accredited nurse, completed my Advanced Life Support (ALS) and First Line Emergency Critical Care (FLECC) training, and currently rotate within the most acute parts of the emergency department.
If it was not for the module of the graduate certificate, which make continuous learning a wholesome and exciting experience, I do not think I would have had the encouragement, passion, or the confidence to pursue other aspects of continuous learning within ED after only one years’ experience.
In summary, I believe the level of support and the outline of ACN’s graduate certificates is designed for a busy work nurse, and especially tailored for those of us who struggle with online learning and need the continuous energy and care of the courses’ educators and fellow nurse students.
I am already considering another graduate certificate with ACN, and I would encourage all nurses who have been thinking about expanding their knowledge and focusing on the aspects of nursing they enjoy the most… to just do it… commit, and ACN will provide with everything else you need to take that step into the right direction with your career.
The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing
The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing is a course written by specialist nurses, for the busy nurse looking to progress their career in acute/critical care. You can find out more about the Graduate Certificate and apply for the July intake on our website.
Nabella Earth-Reda MACN
Nabella Earth-Reda MACN is a rural emergency nurse with a cardiology background. She travels and utilizes her nursing to provide healthcare for rural emergency departments with short staffing issues. Her aim is to become a cardiac emergency nurse and work with humanitarian missions to provide nursing care to those lost in need.
