Nursing - Emergency Medicine - Athlone

Emergency Nursing has developed into a distinct specialist area of practice and given the acuity of patients who present to Emergency Departments, it is recognised that there is a need to develop additional clinical expertise among emergency nurses to meet the demands of patients. Developing the clinical expertise of nurses within Emergency Departments supports the achievement of the goals of the HSE National Emergency Medicine Programme (EMP) programme to improve access, quality and cost in Emergency Medicine in Ireland.



Within the nursing context, the EMP envisages that emergency nurses work as part of the interdisciplinary team to provide the optimal level of emergency nursing care that is patient focused, family centred, maximises health and social gain, promotes excellence in nursing practice and advocates for all patients who suffer sudden injury or illness. As part of the interdisciplinary team, emergency nurses implement standardised evidence-based pathways for the care of emergency patients and work with the therapy professions and medical practitioners to enhance the seamless transfer of safe, high quality patient care within the emergency care network.



Emergency nursing practice is underpinned by expert knowledge gained through specialist education and clinical experience. Considering this, the Certificate in Emergency Nursing is a clinically based, 20 credit Level 8 Special Purpose Award programme which aims to enhance the emergency nurses’ knowledge, skills and competencies in the delivery of evidence-based care for acutely ill patients attending the Emergency Department.



The tenets underpinning the programme are informed by the National Strategy of the Emergency Medicine Programme (HSE, 2012) which provided the basis for the framework for the programme. It is currently facilitated by a consortium of five Higher Education Institutes Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest (Athlone), Munster Technological University (Tralee), Atlantic Technological University (Letterkenny) South East Technological University (Waterford) and Dundalk Institute of Technology.



The programme provides for the continuing professional development of nurses through education, clinical practice, leadership and research utilisation, providing a pathway for the nurse to evolve not only professionally, but also personally which will enable him/her to fulfil their potential. It endeavours to educate and guide emergency nursing practice, a speciality that is underpinned by expert knowledge, specialist education and clinical experience.



Following the programme, it is expected that nurses will be better able to critically evaluate and apply the required knowledge and skills to guide a comprehensive and systematic patient assessment to include prioritisation, planning implementation and evaluation of evidence-based nursing care. In addition, it is expected that as part of an interdisciplinary team, the emergency nurse will develop enhanced interpersonal, management and leadership skills in the co-ordination and management of the acutely ill patient in the Emergency Department.

The aim of this module is to facilitate nurses who care for patients in an Emergency Department



to develop their knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of acutely ill patients.



Indicative content includes:



Holistic assessment, management and nursing care of patients who present to the Emergency Department in emergency and non-emergency situations with sudden or severe medical and surgical illness, sepsis or injury.

Application of the principles of professional accountability, autonomy and effective interpersonal skills required in the safe and effective delivery of care in the Emergency Department.



Interpretation of new and existing nursing knowledge through evidence-based practice and critical reflection in the delivery of nursing care to all patient cohorts attending the Emergency Department.



Clinical Placement Emergency Nursing

The aim of this module is to provide the student with exposure to clinical placement in emergency nursing so that they continue to develop confidence and competence in the practise of emergency nursing.



The student engages in a competency assessment process through the completion of a Clinical Competency Assessment Workbook to provide evidence of competence. The assessment of competence is underpinned by the 6 Domains of Competence as set down by the National Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (2017).

The entry requirements for this programme require students to:



1. Be registered or eligible to register as an RGN on the live register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).



2. Be currently employed as a nurse in an Emergency Department where a robust clinical governance structure is in place and with a declaration of support from the Director of Nursing or their designate.



3. Have a minimum of one-year post registration clinical experience (within the past 5 years).



4. Provide evidence of Continuing Professional Development and the ability to study at Level 8



5. Be able to access a designated mentor with the appropriate clinical expertise to assess the student in completing a clinical competency assessment workbook.



HSE nurses who can secure a placement in an Emergency Department and nurses from non HSE organisations who work in an Emergency Department may be offered a place on the programme subject to meeting the programme entry criteria and availability of places.

3 months

START DATE

15/01/2024

Further Study

The programme provides for the continuing professional development of nurses through education, clinical practice, and leadership providing a pathway for the nurse to evolve not only professionally, but also personally which will enable him/her to fulfil their potential.

This programme will add to a nurse’s portfolio of qualifications which may allow progression to further studies in this domain. The programme educates students in a speciality that is underpinned by expert knowledge, specialist education and clinical experience.

It is envisaged that the knowledge and skills gained in this programme will prepare the ED nurse for progression onto the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing (Emergency).



Career Opportunities

Following the programme, it is expected that nurses will be better able to critically evaluate and apply the required knowledge and skills to guide a comprehensive and systematic patient assessment to include prioritisation, planning implementation and evaluation of evidence-based nursing care.

In addition, it is expected that as part of an interdisciplinary team, the ED nurse will develop enhanced interpersonal, management and leadership skills in the co-ordination and management of the acutely ill patient in ED.