Explore the science and decision making behind high acuity care and learn how to support patients and whānau through critical moments.
Why study High Acuity Nursing?
High Acuity Nursing is a powerful way to expand your practice and make a real difference for people needing urgent or complex care.
You will deepen your understanding of how acute illness develops and how to respond with clarity and confidence. You will explore key concepts that guide care in rapidly changing environments, and you will learn to recognise patterns, interpret clinical information, and make decisions that support safe outcomes. Your study will help you use evidence-based practice in every stage of assessment, planning, and evaluation.
You will also examine the wider context of high acuity care, including teamwork, communication, cultural safety, and the ethical responsibilities that shape fast-paced practice. As you build advanced skills in health assessment and clinical reasoning, you will strengthen your ability to work with diverse populations across acute care settings.
This programme supports nurses who want to grow as reflective practitioners and step into more complex clinical roles.
Career opportunities
With a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (High Acuity), you are prepared for clinical roles that require advanced assessment, quick thinking, and strong teamwork. Graduates are ready for environments that demand clear judgement and safe, evidence informed practice. Career pathways include:
- Acute care nursing roles
- Emergency department nursing
- High dependency or progressive care nursing
- Acute assessment and rapid response roles
- Policy and best-practice development
What it’s like to study at this level
When you study High Acuity Nursing at Otago, you’ll combine academic rigour with practical relevance. The PGCertHealSc (High Acuity) is offered through our Christchurch campus and via distance learning, giving you the flexibility to balance work and study. With a combination of remote and in-person teaching, you will learn from experienced lecturers and clinical specialists who help you apply theory to real situations. Case-based learning builds your ability to notice subtle changes, interpret clinical data, and respond with confidence. Working with peers encourages discussion, shared insight, and reflective practice.
This is for you if ...
If you are a practising registered nurse with an interest in acute or rapidly changing conditions you, will have a strong foundation to build on. Confidence with communication, teamwork, and reflective thinking is also helpful.
Care for people when it matters most
Our programme brings global standing and clinical strength to support nurses who want to grow as practitioners and step into more complex clinical roles.
Delivered by the Department of Nursing at the University of Otago’s Christchurch campus, you’ll benefit from world-class facilities, experts who are active in research and delivering health care, and flexible modes of study that respect your working life and commitments.
You’ll get to explore the high acuity aspects of your own practice and the socio-political and cultural perspectives. You will also develop advanced health assessment skills to provide safe evidenced-based care in high pressure situations.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
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Contacts
Coordinator, Student Experience
University of Otago, Christchurch
Email postgrad.uoc@otago.ac.nz
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