Nursing - Critical Care Nursing - Intensive Care

Critical Care Nursing requires an advanced knowledge base, skilled assessment, prompt intervention and ongoing evaluation in order to care for the critically ill with complex needs.



The critical care nurse maintains the balance between the science of nursing and the art of caring. This course will provide the nurse with an opportunity to develop, enhance and maintain these specialist skills that are required to care for the critically ill.



This programme will enhance your career prospects and give you the building blocks for lifelong self-directed learning. It will also provide you with the vital knowledge and skills to innovate and lead in your area of practice in Critical Care. Following successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Critical Care - Intensive Care, you will be able to complete an MSc Critical Care in one academic year.



What Will I Learn?

• Develop a greater understanding of the holistic principles which underpin the various aspects of critical care nursing particularly in relation to intensive care

• Augment students' knowledge and appreciation of nursing theory and biopsychosocial sciences which underpin critical care nursing practice in intensive care

• Provide students with an opportunity for personal growth and professional development

• Develop skills to enhance their professional practice, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication skills



The Graduate Certificate in Nursing, Critical Care – Intensive Care is a 40 ECTS programme offered over1-year.



Programme Strengths

• UCD has a long history of producing high-quality graduates

• This programme enables graduates to be even more effective clinicians, change agents and clinical leaders in Critical Care

• Access to clinical and university-based lecturers with national and international expertise from clinical, research and educational perspectives

• The Programme employs a variety of innovative assessment strategies with a strong clinical focus

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

• Access to excellent facilities for lectures



Does this programme have an official conferring ceremony?

Please note there is no online or in-person conferring ceremony for this programme. Your parchment will be posted to you by UCD Conferring.



This programme is aimed at advancing the registered nurse’s repertoire of knowledge and skills for professional practice in the care of patients within the critical care environment. This programme is for registered nurses working within the critical care environment in the Republic of Ireland. Applicants for this programme most hold either a UCD, MSc Clinical Practice qualification or who have completed the following modules NMHS43260 Nursing Knowledge Philosophy and Practice and NMHS43270 Research Methods Applied to Healthcare.



NFQ Level: 9 (40 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Certificate

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS42770: he Complex Critically Ill Patient

NMHS42780: Nursing Care of the Chronically Critically Ill Patient

NMHS42520: Clinical Practicum



Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:

Students who have completed CPD module select NMHS32440, otherwise select NMHS42630.

NMHS32440: Core Theoretical Concepts of Nursing Care for the Critically Ill patient.

NMHS42630: Core Theoretical Concepts of Nursing Care for the Critically Ill Patient

Entry Requirements

• Applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing (or equivalent in a related discipline)/RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) consideration if no degre

• Applicants must be listed on the Register of Nurses and Midwives, which is maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)

• 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

• Must have at least one year’s post-registration experience at the time of application

• Must be employed in coronary care nursing for the duration of the programme and work a minimum of 75 hours per month

• Also each student must provide documented evidence from the Director of Nursing in the clinical practice area, which guarantees ICU placement for the duration of the programme



Documents Required

• Academic 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

• 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)

• 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)



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.



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.

1 year part-time.

Delivery: On Campus

X685: Graduate Certificate Critical Care Nursing (Intensive Care)

Graduate Certificate



Part-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

The Graduate Certificate Critical Care Nursing Intensive Care provides you with the comprehensive knowledge and skills required for caring for the critically ill. The key knowledge and skills gained on this programme will also enable you to innovate and lead in your area of practice in Critical Care.