Nursing - Advanced Practice - ANP

The MSc Nursing (Advanced Practice) will prepare suitably qualified nurses to practice both autonomously and collaboratively in a defined area of advanced nursing practice. On successful completion of the programme nurses will be eligible to apply for registration as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and a Registered Nurse Prescriber (RNP) with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). This programme provides students with an opportunity to avail of an optional module in Prescription of Ionising Radiation.



Advanced Nurse Practitioners are highly skilled practitioners and clinical leaders delivering quality care to an agreed group of patients/clients. They are committed to gathering and disseminating nursing research, mentoring nurses, and sharing information in the classroom, clinical environment, on national/international stages and professional publications. Advanced Nurse Practitioners also serve as change agents who coordinate and evaluate health care, and formulate policy which advances nursing practice and improves patient/client outcomes.



Watch the useful video by Programme Director Associate Professor Mary Ryder on the application process.



What Will I Learn?

The aim of the programme is to enable experienced registered nurses to develop the knowledge and skills required for registration as an advanced nurse practitioner and to undertake advanced practice roles that meet the challenges and developments within the health services. The programme further aims to support the student to develop her/his role as an autonomous member of the multidisciplinary health care team within the healthcare organisation and professional leaders in their field of specialist practice. The graduate, equipped with such knowledge and advanced skills will be eligible to apply to the NMBI for registration as a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP).



You will learn advanced nursing assessment and diagnostic skills, and sharpen your analytical and critical thinking skills to enable you to independently evaluate, develop and provide optimum patient care through caseload management of a specific patient/client group. You will also gain the knowledge and experience to become a Registered Nurse Prescriber in medication and or ionising radiation.



This curriculum design, content, and development incorporate the key concepts which support a broad-based education experience for students and in accordance with Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements (NMBI 2017). The MSc in Advanced Practice (Nursing) (ANP) is available as a part-time programme completed over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme. This is a national programme. The programme is comprised of two research modules, three prescribing modules and four specialist advanced practice modules for completion over two years.



There are a number of exit strategies depending on prior academic achievements and are discussed on an individual basis.



NFQ Level: 9 (110 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Master of Science

Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:

Please note NMHS42960 Advanced Health Assessment must be taken in Autumn.

NMHS33150: Clinical Practicum Prescribing

NMHS42960: Advanced Health Assessment

NMHS43780: Leadership,QI&Gov HC for ANP

NMHS32170: Pharmacology for Nurse-Midwife Prescribing.

NMHS33140: Prescribing Practice Context

NMHS43750: Adv ResMethods HC Professional



Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:

Year 1 option modules. Please note the Optional Ionising modules do not contribute towards your 110 ECTS credits on this MSc.NMHS33900 CP Referring RadProc in Adults and RDGY30790 RadProc: Ref Adults orNMHS33910 CP Referring RadProc in Ad&Chi and RDGY30770 RadProc: Ref Adults/ChildrenORNMHS33920 CP Referring RadProc in Child and RDGY30780 RadProc: Ref ChildrenIf you are not undertaking Health Assessment (Bridging), Please choose two of the following:

NMHS33900: CP Referring RadProc in Adults

NMHS33910: CP Referring RadProc in Ad&Chi

NMHS33920: CP Referring RadProc in Child

RDGY30770: RadProc: Ref Adults/Children

RDGY30780: RadProc: Ref Children

RDGY30790: RadProc: Ref Adults

NMHS42160: Health Assessment (Bridging)



Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:

Year 2 core modules

NMHS43760: Adv Practice Clin Practicum 2

NMHS44020: Evid synthesis & translation

NMHS43770: Advanced Practice Decision Making

Entry Requirements

Applicants for the MSc in Nursing (Advanced Nursing Practice) are required to:

1. Have a minimum of an honours primary degree in Nursing or equivalent.

2. Hold active registration on a division of the professional register maintained by the NMBI or be eligible for such registration as required for individual pathways.

3. Provide evidence of support from an employer and a completed Site Declaration Form, signed by the Director of Nursing/Public Health/ authorised Nurse Manager containing confirmation of a designated medical practitioner mentor and/or Advanced Nurse Practitioner mentor who will provide supervision, support and learning opportunities, including opportunities to practice under supervision to gain the required competencies and clinical competence to practice at an advanced level in nursing.

4. For applicants who do not have medicinal prescribing completed:

• A minimum of 3 years post-registration clinical experience (within the past 5 years) with at least one year in the area in which prescribing is proposed

• Possession of competencies recognized at level 8 of the QQI framework

• Signed Site Declaration Form

• Nomination and confirmation of a designated medical practitioner mentor

• Support from employer to undertake programme

• Demonstration of continuous professional development and the ability to study at level 8

• Possess IT competencies

• Provided documented support of a designated clinical supervisor as agreed by the Local Implementation Group



For applicants who wish to undertake the optional Ionising Radiation Prescribing module[1]

• Letter of recommendation from Line Manager

• Confirm his/her intention to practice as a nurse with authority to prescribe ionizing radiation (X-Ray) in the area of identified clinical need

• Signed declaration form by the Director of Nursing, Clinical Supervisor and Head of Radiology (Consultant Radiologist)

[1] This applies only to candidates taking the Ionising Radiation Prescribing module.



In addition, applicants must:

• Provide a signed Site declaration form for prescribing modules (if you are taking the prescribing pathway)

• Provide a site audit form for prescribing modules (if you are taking the prescribing pathway)

• Nomination and confirmation of a designated medical practitioner mentor who will support the student in endoscopy skills training

• Seek support from an employer to undertake the programme

• Possess IT competencies



Documents Required

• Certificates of nursing qualifications or validated copies of awards

• Transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant

• A photocopy of current NMBI registration

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

• Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not English)

• Site Declaration Form Prescribing signed by the Director of nursing/Midwifery and Medical Mentor (Prescribing).

• Site Declaration Form (Referring for Radiological Procedures) signed by the Director of Nursing, clinical Supervisor and Head of radiology (Consultant Radiologist).

• Clinical Mentor Agreement Form

• Director of Nursing Support Form

• Professional Mentor Agreement Form



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL may be granted in respect of individual modules if applicants can demonstrate that the modules' learning outcomes have been achieved through prior credentialled or experiential learning. In some cases, where an applicant does not meet the prerequisites for entry to a programme, an RPL application may be considered.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme.



Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page (https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax) for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

110

2 years part-time

Delivery: On Campus

MSc Nursing - Advanced Practice (ANP) (X844) Part Time

EU/NONEU: Year 1 - €6000

EU/NONEU: Year 2 - €6000 aa


aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2020 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2019/20


***Fees are subject to change.

X844: MSc in Advanced Practice (Nursing) ANP

Master of Science



Part-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught