Nursing - Cancer Nursing - Adult

Graduate Certificate Cancer Nursing: Adult

The programme will enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for adults with cancer.

Who is the programme for?
The programme is aimed at advancing the registered nurse's repertoire of knowledge and skills in the care of Adults with cancer; 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 already completed a level 9 Graduate Diploma in another nursing specialty. This is a good option for nurses who have already completed a level 9 Graduate Diploma in another nursing specialty. For more information, please see RPL below.

Programme Objectives
The programme aims to develop the practitioner's capacities for caring and competent practice in Adult Cancer 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 adults with cancer including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication

•To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins Adult Cancer 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 Adult Cancer 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 Adult Cancer Nursing

What will I learn?
The curriculum is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills with respect to the holistic assessment and management of adults with cancer.

How will I benefit?
On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Adult Cancer Nursing). This is a highly regarded qualification for nurses caring for adults with cancer in Ireland.

Programme structure
This is a one (academic) year programme, broken down into two semesters. 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 semesters.

List of specialist modules:
•Fundamentals of Cancer Care
•Psychological Impact of Chronic Illness
•Adult Cancer Nursing
•Clinical Practicum (Adult Cancer Nursing)

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 semesters. 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 semesters.

List of specialist modules:
•Fundamentals of Cancer Care
•Psychological Impact of Chronic Illness
•Adult Cancer Nursing
•Clinical Practicum (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)

•Applicants must hold a Graduate Diploma in another specialist area of nursing or have obtained 30 ECT (credits) at Level 9 (Masters Level in both research and theoretical aspects of nursing)

•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 Adult Cancer Nursing at time of attendance

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.

Documents to be submitted with your application
PLEASE NOTE - THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS 01, AUGUST, 2020
•Original transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant
•Nurse applicants: A current photocopy of An Bord Altranais registration
•Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport
•Signed Declaration Form from Employer (original form)
•Completed Professional Reference Form (original form)
•Nurse applicants: Completed Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form signed by the nominee
•Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not English)

Closing Date 30 July 2022

How to apply
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.

Apply online

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

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

Applicants: A current photocopy of An Bord Altranais 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)

1 year part-time.

Careers/where can I go?
Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for adults with cancer, 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 cancer nursing. Many nurses also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.