Nursing - Cancer Nursing

Graduate Diploma Cancer Nursing (Adult, Breast, Children, Colorectal) - F/Time (X546); P/Time (X747)

Who is the programme for?
The programme is aimed at further advancing the registered nurse's repertoire of knowledge and skills in caring for people affected by cancer* (PABC)). The Adult and Children's Cancer Nursing strands are particularly aimed at nurses who are based in oncology/haematology wards and/or oncology/haematology day wards while the Breast Care Nursing and Colorectal Nursing strands are aimed at nurses working in surgical wards/clinics who care for patients with breast cancer and colorectal cancer, respectively.

Who should apply?
Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

The programme is aimed at further advancing the registered nurse's repertoire of knowledge and skills in caring for people affected by cancer* (PABC)). The Adult and Children's Cancer Nursing strands are particularly aimed at nurses who are based in oncology/haematology wards and/or oncology/haematology day wards while the Breast Care Nursing and Colorectal Nursing strands are aimed at nurses working in surgical wards/clinics who care for patients with breast cancer and colorectal cancer, respectively.

*PABC: those at high risk of developing cancer, patients, cancer survivors, families/significant others.

Vision and Values Statement
The Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing is an academic and clinically based programme designed for students who wish to deepen and broaden their knowledge and expertise in cancer care in order to provide safe, effective and holistic care to people with cancer. There are four strands in this programme (Adult Cancer Nursing, Children's Cancer Nursing, Breast Care Nursing, and Colorectal Nursing). Students undertaking the programme will choose one of these strands. The Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing programme vision and values statement and programme outcomes are applicable to all four strands.

The programme builds upon and advances students' existing knowledge, skills and values to promote students' capacities for critical thinking and critical self-appraisal. The purpose of the programme is to advance the students' sense of professional awareness, commitment, professional responsibility and accountability in the context of cancer care. The programme is concerned with the promotion, enhancement and maintenance of health in the context of cancer. The Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing recognises that individual, family, social groupings and cultures influence the life experiences of individuals diagnosed with cancer and that healthcare practitioners have a social responsibility to promote health.

The Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing curriculum is student-focused, research-led and research informed. A wide variety of pedagogical approaches to teaching, learning and assessment are used to enhance the student experience, thereby, encouraging the incremental development of learning. The curriculum is developed with stakeholder involvement to ensure that it meets the current and future needs of cancer nurses who work in a complex and evolving healthcare system. Learning takes place in multiple environments across the university and clinical setting. Learning is facilitated by the use of a variety of innovative pedagogies and technologies to meet emerging student, professional and health system needs.

The involvement of cancer clinicians in teaching and assessment is a major strength of the programme. Other strengths of the programme include student centred clinical placements in designated cancer centres and programme co-ordination by a programme director with clinical expertise in cancer nursing, appropriate qualifications in education and research who is currently conducting research in cancer care.

List of core modules:
•Nursing Knowledge: Phil & Prac (Sem 1)
•Research Methods Applied to Healthcare (Sem 2)

List of specialist modules:
•Fundamentals of Cancer Care
•Psycho-oncology and
•Adult Cancer Nursing
•Clinical Practicum (Adult Cancer Nursing) or
•Breast Care Nursing
•Clinical Practicum (Breast Care) or
•Children's Cancer Nursing
•Clinical Practicum (Children's Cancer Nursing) or
•Colorectal Nursing
•Clinical Practicum (Colorectal Nursing)

Applicants for this programme must be registered nurses. Normally, applicants will have a primary degree in nursing. Nurses who do not have a degree may apply for recognition of prior experiential learning (RPL). Criteria to be used in assessment of the RPL application includes number of years of experience, and evidence of recent and ongoing professional development. Please see below for more information on RPL.

Applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses Register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) (be registered as a registered general nurse (RGN)/ registered children's nurse (RCN).

Applicants must have at least one year's experience in nursing in their specialist area at the time of commencing the programme.

Applicants for the Adult and Children's Cancer Nursing strands will be required to demonstrate competency in the administration of systemic anti-cancer treatments and will therefore normally be based on oncology/haematology wards and/or oncology/haematology day wards (preferably rotating across both settings) prior to and for the duration of the programme. Applicants for the Adult and Children's Cancer Nursing strands who are caring for patients with cancer but who are not based in the aforementioned settings will require a letter of support from their Assistant Director of Nursing undertaking to facilitate a placement in oncology/haematology for at least 6 weeks over the course of the programme.

Applicants for the Breast Care Nursing strand and the Colorectal Nursing strand must be employed in a unit caring for patients with breast cancer or colorectal cancer, respectively prior to commencing and for the duration of the programme.

All applicants must have identified a clinical assessor who is willing to undertake their clinical assessments over the duration of the programme. The clinical assessor must have the experience and qualifications relevant to the speciality.

Documents Required

PLEASE NOTE - The official closing date is July 31st, 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.

Original transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant
Applicants: A current photocopy of NMBI registration
Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport
Signed Declaration Form from Employer (original form)
Completed Professional Reference Form (original form)
Applicants: Completed Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form signed by the nominee
Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not English)
Completed accreditation RPL Application Form (if no degree)
Letter of support (to facilitate placement in oncology/haematology ward/day ward) from ADON for applicants to the Adult Cancer Nursing and Children's Cancer Nursing strands if not normally based in an oncology/haematology ward/day ward.

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. Further information can be found in respect of this here.

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:

Grad Dip Nursing (Cancer Nursing) FT (X546)
Duration 1 Years
Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Assessments are varied (assignments/short examination questions/MCQ/case presentation and clinical assessments (Clinical Competency Assessment Tool, Clinical Learning Outcomes, a practical examination (OSCE)) and occur at intervals throughout and at the end of the trimesters.

60 credits

1 year full-time

Next Intake: September 2020

Careers & Employability
Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for patients with cancerous conditions, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in your chosen 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 Adult, Breast, Childrens or Colorectal care. Many nurses also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.