Nursing - Cancer Nursing - Children

Who is the programme for?
The programme is aimed at advancing the registered nurse's repertoire of knowledge and skills in the care of children with cancer; it is particularly aimed at preparing the nurse to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist in this area.

What is the programme about?
The programme will enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for children with cancer.

Programme objectives
The programme aims to develop the practitioner's capacities for caring and competent practice in Children's 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 children with cancer including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication
- To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins Children's 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 Children's 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 Children's 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 children with cancer.

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

List of specialist modules:
•Fundamentals of Cancer
•Psychological Impact of Chronic Illness
•Children's Cancer Nursing
•Clinical Practicum (Children's Cancer)

•Applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing (or equivalent in related discipline)/APEL consideration if no degree

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

•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 Children's 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.

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.

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
Other health care professionals: A current photocopy of registration with professional registration body
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)

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.

1 year part-time. This is a one (academic) year programme, broken down into two semesters.

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