Nursing - Emergency Care

A blended learning model combines flexible online study with face-to-face workshop days featuring high-fidelity simulation, interprofessional learning, and expert clinical faculty. Students complete a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice in approved emergency care settings.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Required NU611: Specialist I (Medical Emergencies)

Required NU921: Clinical Competence 1

Required NU623: Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice

Required NU613: Specialist 3 (Specialist Patient Populations)

Required NU612: Specialist 2 (Major Trauma & Surgical Emergencies)

Required NU6439: Service Improvement

Required NU502: Advanced Research Methods

Required NU922: Clinical Competence 2

Year 2 (30 Credits)

Required NU6515: Research Dissertation

All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:



- Be a registered nurse on the General Nurse division of the register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI);



- Have a minimum of six months’ post-registration experience (exclusive of post-registration courses);



- Be currently working in the required specialist area, i.e., emergency, and have, as a minimum, six months’ clinical experience in this specialist area;



- Have an honours bachelor’s degree at NFQ Level 8 in nursing or a comparable qualification. Applicants who do not hold an honours degree or Higher Diploma (Level 8) must demonstrate that they have successfully completed (in the previous two years) a module at Level 9. Please consult the professional credit awards at Level 9 at: www.nuigalway.ie/pca/pca.html.

Postgraduate Diploma: 1 year full-time

Masters: 2 years full-time (if eligible for second year following Postgraduate Diploma)

Next start date September 2026

Where graduates work

Hospitals, trauma centres, urgent care units, and specialised clinics - nationally and internationally.



Roles you can pursue



Specialist emergency nurse

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Clinical leadership or management

Educator or trainer in nursing programmes

Research or service improvement role

Career progression

Move into senior clinical positions, lead service development, or transition into academic research and teaching. High-achieving graduates can progress to MSc or PhD study.



Skills employers value

Advanced clinical decision-making, critical thinking, leadership, evidence-based practice, and simulation experience - all developed through this course.



Opportunities in the field

Growing demand for skilled emergency nurses, nurse-led clinics, virtual care services, and service improvement initiatives creates strong career prospects nationally and internationally.