Nursing - Children's Nursing

The Higher Diploma in Nursing (Children’s Nursing) programme is delivered in partnership with the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, and Children’s Health Ireland. This post-registration children’s nursing programme is a one-year fixed programme, awarding an academic accreditation at the Level 8 National Qualification Authority Ireland framework.



This programme will build upon your existing nursing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional values, enhancing your ability to care for infants, children and young people, and their families, within a variety of paediatric healthcare settings.



How will I benefit?

On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a level 8 Higher Diploma in Nursing (Children’s Nursing) from UCD’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems. The programme is recognised nationally and internationally and is a highly regarded qualification. With it, you will be well-positioned for employment opportunities in a variety of paediatric healthcare settings both nationally and internationally. Academically there are opportunities to pursue to Masters/PhD level.



Programme Strengths

• Strong working and collaborative relationship between UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).

• Students on this programme will undertake clinical placements in any of the CHI Group Hospitals which include CHI at Crumlin, CHI at Temple St., CHI at Tallaght, CHI at Connolly and once it is opened, the new Children's Hospital.

• Lectures are both clinical and university-based, delivered by a wide range of children’s nursing specialists with national and international expertise from clinical, research and educational perspectives.

• A variety of innovative teaching methods, including lectures, workshops, and simulations, are used to consolidate the theoretical learning into clinical practice. Assessment methods are diverse and student oriented.

• Extensive use of IT in supporting the teaching environment of the programme

• Access to student support services including a dedicated student advisor, librarian and access to the UCD Writing Centre



What Will I Learn?

The Higher Diploma in Nursing (Children’s Nursing) Programme delivers a curriculum aligned with NMBI Standards and Requirements for Post-Registration programmes (2018) and UCD Academic Regulation (2020) underpinned by several specific philosophical assumptions concerning child and family centred care, children and their families, professional children’s nursing practice and knowledge and scholarship.

This programme aims to provide registered nursing practitioners with advanced nursing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional values, through deep understanding and collaborative practice with infants, children and young people, and their families, following a child and family-centred care approach.



NFQ Level: 8 (90 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Higher Diploma

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS33250: Nurs Child Enduring Needs

NMHS33260: Nurs Child Diverse Needs

NMHS33300: Principles Children's Nursing

NMHS33310: Nurs Child Acute Set (HDip)

NMHS33330: Practice Placement 1A

NMHS20810: Growth & Development Child

NMHS33320: Evid Based Care Child (HDip)

NMHS33340: Practice Placement 1B

NMHS33490: Comm Care&Service Child (Hdip)

NMHS33350: Practice Placement 2

NMHS33360: Practice Placement 3

NMHS33370: Practice Placement 4A

NMHS33380: Practice Placement 4B

Entry Requirements

All applicants must:

• Registered with NMBI as RGN/RPN/RNID

• 6 months relevant nursing experience within the last 2 years up to and including 1st April of the year of application

• Students who have English as a second language must satisfy the English language requirements of the university to be eligible to apply



Please Note: If your preference is to be a student of UCD (partnered with CHI at Crumlin) there is an essential requirement that you must have undertaken a Level 8 Research Module (either stand alone or as part of a level 8 programme)



Please Note: If English is not your native language, unless you have completed your primary degree through English in an English-speaking country, an English language qualification is required for all programmes. Please refer to here for more details.



Desirable Criteria:

· Experience working with or caring for children and families

· Awareness of professional and paediatric issues

· Management of clinical risk and quality issues

· Experience of research-based practice and audit



Documents required:

• Copy of current Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland P.I.N.

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport.



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.

Note: Applications for this course are made through Children's Health Ireland and not through the UCD application system.



Applications for September 2025 intake are now open. Please visit https://chi.jobs/prcns/ to apply.

1 year full-time

Delivery: On Campus

X895: Nursing (Children's Nursing)

Higher Diploma



Full-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught