ACN offers students flexible course commencement dates in January, April, July and October terms. Please contact our Customer Service team for further information.
It is estimated that 16,084 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2016, advances in treatments mean that there is now a 90% chance of surviving at least 5 years from diagnosis.
Cancer Australia 2016
Intakes
January & July
FEE-HELP
Available
Duration
1 Year Part-time
Study mode
Online
Why study this course
Studying breast cancer nursing with ACN will provide you with the principles of breast cancer nursing in order to improve your knowledge and skills for the provision and coordination of evidenced based breast cancer care. The aim is to encourage professional and ethical understanding of clinical practice development for the improvement of patient outcomes. Our course is written by specialist nurses for nurses, and students are supported by a team of clinical experts, working within the speciality. Our electives allow students to further explore a specific area of interest related to breast cancer nursing.
ACN has proudly been providing education to McGrath Foundation nurses since 2013.
Course overview
The course aligns with the Specialist Breast Nurse Competency Standards and associated educational requirements (NBCC 2005) and the National educational framework for cancer nurses (EdCaN 2009). It responds to industry requirements by preparing graduates for specialist breast cancer nursing roles within the wide scope of breast cancer care.
Through critical analysis and reflection students are given the opportunity to evaluate their clinical and educational requirements to promote professional development for Specialist Breast Cancer Nursing care and lifelong learning. The course also supports development in clinical leadership roles such as clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurse consultants or breast cancer nurse coordinators. The course focus includes the continuum of breast cancer care, evidence based practice, future trends and the impact of breast cancer on individuals, their families and communities.
Learning outcomes
This course is designed to develop an understanding of breast cancer nursing with a strong clinical focus. It enables students to:
- demonstrate specialist knowledge that informs evidence based breast cancer nursing practice for the provision and coordination of patient care
- develop specialist clinical practice and advance their clinical decision making skills for the assessment and management of patients with breast cancer
- engage in and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with patients, their significant others and other members of the multidisciplinary care team
- develop professional and educational leadership skills to provide support for other clinicians and provide an overall contribution to the multi-disciplinary breast cancer care team
- critically analyse current literature and nursing practice to provide evidence based contemporary care for patients diagnosed with breast cancer
- examine their ability to reflect on personal and professional values and attitudes in relation to the care of patients with breast cancer and their families and carers.
Units of study
| CODE | UNIT OF STUDY | TYPE | 10 004 1818 COMMENCEMENT DATE | CENSUS DATE | COMPLETION DATE | INDIVIDUAL FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | Breast cancers | C | 9 July 2018 | 23 July 2018 | 16 September 2018 | Tier 2 |
| 925 | Leadership and professional practice | E | 9 July 2018 | 23 July 2018 | 16 September 2018 | Tier 1 |
| 279 | Breast cancer treatments | C | 1 October 2018 | 15 October 2018 | 9 December 2018 | Tier 2 |
| 113 | Assessing and managing adult pain | E | 21 January 2019 | 4 February 2019 | 31 March 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 217 | Chemotherapy and other systemic treatments in cancer care | E | 21 January 2019 | 4 February 2019 | 31 March 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 187 | Communication - applied strategies for health care professionals | E | 21 January 2019 | 4 February 2019 | 31 March 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 925 | Leadership and professional practice | E | 21 January 2019 | 4 February 2019 | 31 March 2019 | Tier 2 |
| 092 | Symptom management in advanced disease states | E | 21 January 2019 | 4 February 2019 | 31 March 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 280 | Continuum of care in breast cancer nursing | C | 15 April 2019 | 29 April 2019 | 23 June 2019 | Tier 1 |
| CODE | UNIT OF STUDY | TYPE | 10 004 1919 COMMENCEMENT DATE | CENSUS DATE | COMPLETION DATE | INDIVIDUAL FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | Breast cancers | C | 21 January 2019 | 4 February 2019 | 31 March 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 279 | Breast cancer treatments | C | 15 April 2019 | 29 April 2019 | 23 June 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 113 | Assessing and managing adult pain | E | 8 July 2019 | 22 July 2019 | 15 September 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 217 | Chemotherapy and other systemic treatments in cancer care | E | 8 July 2019 | 22 July 2019 | 15 September 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 187 | Communication - applied strategies for health care professionals | E | 8 July 2019 | 22 July 2019 | 15 September 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 925 | Leadership and professional practice | E | 8 July 2019 | 22 July 2019 | 15 September 2019 | Tier 2 |
| 092 | Symptom management in advanced disease states | E | 8 July 2019 | 22 July 2019 | 15 September 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 280 | Continuum of care in breast cancer nursing | C | 30 September 2019 | 14 October 2019 | 8 December 2019 | Tier 1 |
| CODE | UNIT OF STUDY | TYPE | 10 004 1920 COMMENCEMENT DATE | CENSUS DATE | COMPLETION DATE | INDIVIDUAL FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | Breast cancers | C | 8 July 2019 | 22 July 2019 | 15 September 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 925 | Leadership and professional practice | E | 8 July 2019 | 22 July 2019 | 15 September 2019 | Tier 2 |
| 279 | Breast cancer treatments | C | 30 September 2019 | 14 October 2019 | 8 December 2019 | Tier 1 |
| 113 | Assessing and managing adult pain | E | 20 January 2020 | 3 February 2020 | 29 March 2020 | Tier 1 |
| 217 | Chemotherapy and other systemic treatments in cancer care | E | 20 January 2020 | 3 February 2020 | 29 March 2020 | Tier 1 |
| 187 | Communication - applied strategies for health care professionals | E | 20 January 2020 | 3 February 2020 | 29 March 2020 | Tier 1 |
| 925 | Leadership and professional practice | E | 20 January 2020 | 3 February 2020 | 29 March 2020 | Tier 2 |
| 092 | Symptom management in advanced disease states | E | 20 January 2020 | 3 February 2020 | 29 March 2020 | Tier 1 |
| 280 | Continuum of care in breast cancer nursing | C | 13 April 2020 | 27 April 2020 | 21 June 2020 | Tier 1 |
C = Core | E = Elective (choose one elective)
Where this qualification can take you
A Graduate Certificate in Breast Cancer 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.
| Tiers | 2019 Non-member price | 2019 Member price (10% discount) |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $2,165.00 | $1,948.50 |
| Tier 2 | $2,475.00 | $2,227.50 |
| Tier 3 | $2,915.00 | $2,623.50 |
| Tier 4 | $3,475.00 | $3,127.50 |
Admission to GC courses is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites 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 PG units of study, consideration may be given for applicants who are not registered nurses on an individual basis.
Enrolments may be available each term dependent upon course requirements and student numbers. Call customer services on 1800 265 534 for more information.
*Fees are subject to change without notice.
Testimonial
“The ACN has been providing education to McGrath Breast Care Nurses since 2013.
The Graduate Certificate in Breast Care Nursing that we encourage our nurses to complete provides specialist knowledge that has a strong clinical foundation that builds on and leverages existing knowledge and skills and ultimately contributes to evidence based best-practice.
The course is also aligned with breast care nursing competency frameworks and nationally recognised educational frameworks, which is very reassuring. Course content spans the breadth of the breast cancer experience with a focus on multidisciplinary well-coordinated care. The embedding of leadership capabilities throughout each module allows our nurses to expand their skill base and develop competencies in for example, communication and team work-vital aspects of their roles. Feedback from our nurses has always been extremely positive in relation to course content, materials and support.”
– Jane Mahony
Mission Programmes Director, McGrath Foundation
Breast cancer nurse practicum
The Westmead Breast Cancer Institute in collaboration with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) developed this program to support rural and remote nurses to gain a better understanding of the clinical diagnosis and management of patients with breast cancer, within a multidisciplinary setting. This program offers students the opportunity to access blended learning through a 5 day face to face program in a speciality unit, with learning supported by access to online resources.
For more details please click here.
McGrath Foundation nurses
The McGrath Foundation Nurses enrolment form is the application form to be completed by nurses currently working for the McGrath Foundation who wish to enrol in the Graduate Certificate Breast Cancer nursing or one of the units of study associated with this course.
To access the enrolment form please click here.
Meet your Nurse Educator
Diva Madan, Nurse Educator – Higher Education
RN, MN clinical education, BN, BSc, DN, Cert IV TAE
Diva coordinates both our Graduate Certificates in Breast Cancer Nursing and Cancer Nursing.
Diva has great passion for clinical teaching and truly enjoys going beyond the essential elements of the curriculum, teaching learners to be creative, curious and critical thinkers.
Student testimonials
Hear straight from our students about their experiences with ACN’s Graduate Certificate in Breast Cancer Nursing.