Nursing - Breast Care Nursing

The programme will enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for patients with malignant and benign breast conditions.

The programme is aimed at advancing the registered nurse's repertoire of knowledge and skills in Breast Care Nursing; it is particularly aimed at preparing the nurse to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist in this area.

This is a good option for nurses who have completed a leve 9 Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing.

The programme aims to develop the practitioner's capacities for caring and competent practice in Breast Care Nursing, in order to prepare the nurse to provide patient-centred care within the health service.

The specific aims of the programme are:

To build upon and advance the student's repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values that were developed during the course of his/her basic training and arising out of his/her experiences in clinical practice

To provide the student with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values for the advancement of his/her role in the care of patients with breast conditions, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication

To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins Breast Care Nursing Practice, including theory in the social and behavioural sciences and theory in the biomedical sciences

To provide learning experiences that advance the student's professional development and personal growth and experiences that affirm the student's capacity to be a self-directed learner

To advance the student's sense of professional awareness, and commitment and a sense of professional responsibility and accountability in Breast Care Nursing

To enable the student to value learning as a continuous process and as a necessary process in the context of his/her professional role in Breast Care Nursing

The curriculum is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills with respect to the holistic assessment and management of patients with malignant and benign breast conditions.

How will I benefit?

On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Professional Diploma in Nursing (Breast Care Nursing). This is a highly regarded qualification for nurses caring for patients with breast conditions in Ireland.

Information technology

It is essential that you have access to a personal computer and an email account as communication with students is primarily undertaken by email. Lecture handouts/announcements are made available to students via Blackboard (a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that supports online learning and teaching) and/or via email. Messages from the university regarding examination policy and procedures are also sent via email.

This is a one (academic) year programme, broken down into two trimesters. Assessments are varied (assignments/short examination questions/MCQ/case presentations and clinical assessments, (Clinical Competency Assessment Tool, Clinical Learning Outcomes) and occur at intervals throughout and at the end of the trimesters.

Applicants must hold a Graduate/Higher Diploma in Adult Cancer Nursing

Applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing (or equivalent in related discipline)

Applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses Register maintained by An Bord Altranais (be registered as an RGN)

Other criteria to be used in the assessment of the application include number of years of experience, and evidence of ongoing professional development

Specific Requirements
Applicants must have at least one year's experience in Breast Care Nursing at time of attendance

Applicants must be employed in a Breast Care unit (focusing on cancer and benign conditions) or related specialist setting prior to commencing the course and for duration of the course

Closing Date 30 July 2022

The official closing date is July 30th, however, as places on the programme are subject to clinical placements which are limited, you are advised to have all of the required documentation submitted by July 1st.

Certificates of nursing qualifications or validated copies of awards

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

A current photocopy of NMBI registration

Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

Professional Reference Form (original form)

Declaration form

Clinical Competance Assessor Nomination form

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

Applications are made online through UCD Applications. ?Applicants may be required to undertake an interview (either face-to-face or via telecommunication) as part of the admission process.

Please note that all applicants are required to pay a €50 application fee. Your application cannot be processed fully unless the application fee has been paid.

1 trimester part-time

Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for patients with breast conditions, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in this area both nationally and internationally. As the programme is particularly aimed at preparing nurses to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist, many nurses eventually take up CNS positions and some may undertake further study required for the role of ANP in breast care. Many nurses also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.