Nursing - Emergency Nursing - Adult

The Graduate Diploma Emergency Nursing (Adult) aims to build upon and advance the emergency nurse’s repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values. The course aims to develop the clinician’s capacities for caring and competent practice in emergency nursing, in order to prepare the nurse to provide a patient-focused, best-practice service within the acute health care delivery service.



On successful completion of the course, you will receive a Graduate Diploma in Emergency Nursing from UCD’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems. The Programme is recognised nationally and internationally and is a highly regarded qualification for nurses caring for emergency department patients throughout Ireland.



What will I learn?

The curriculum is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills in the comprehensive assessment and management of emergency department patients.



What Will I Learn?

This programme can be taken over one year full-time or over two years on a part-time basis. The one year full-time programme is divided into two academic semesters. Semester 1 runs from September to early December. Semester 2 runs from January to May of the following year. Assessments are varied and include case presentations, poster presentations, clinical rounds and short examination questions and occur at intervals during and at the end of each semester. You will complete six modules in total, to include two core modules and four specialist modules. Students taking the programme over two years will take the two core modules in year 1 and the four specialist modules in year 2.



The specific aims of the course are:

• To provide the student with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values for the advancement of his/her role in the care of emergency department patients, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication

• To advance the student’s sense of professional awareness, responsibility and accountability in emergency nursing

• The course will enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for patients with sudden or severe illness or injury. Possessing this expertise will enable you to become a valuable member of the multidisciplinary team involved in emergency care



Programme Strengths

• A long and honourable history of producing high quality graduates, many of whom are now working in advanced nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and nurse management and educational roles

• Specialist modules and clinical placements are offered in close partnership with the Emergency Departments and Nurse Education Centres of St. Vincent’s University Hospital and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

• Short placements in the Emergency Departments of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, the Children’s University Hospital and other acute areas

• This facilitation of access to different hospital sites and settings results in numerous and valuable learning opportunities



The course enables students to gain a comprehensive understanding of subjects relevant to caring for emergency department patients. Particular emphasis is placed on recent national and international research findings and evidence-based guidelines aimed at ensuring optimal outcomes for ED patients.



The course is aimed at advancing the range, breadth and depth of professional knowledge and skills in the care of persons presenting with acute illness or injury to an emergency department. It is aimed at qualified nurses who are currently employed in an emergency department and who have a minimum of six months’ of emergency nursing practice and one year’s acute medical/surgical ward experience.



NFQ Level: 9 (60 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Diploma

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS42940: Person with Specific Needs

NMHS43270: Res Methods Applied to Healthcare

NMHS44230: Fundamentals of Acute Care

NMHS42930: Acutely Injured Adult

NMHS43140: Developing Leadership Competency

NMHS42950: Clinical Practicum

Entry Requirements

• All applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing (or equivalent in a related discipline). Applicants not holding a degree may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.

• All applicants must be entered on to the appropriate division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives, which is maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

• All applicants at the time of application must have at least one year’s post-registration experience working in an Emergency Department.

• All applicants must be employed in an Emergency Department for the duration of the programme and work a minimum of 75 hours per month. To facilitate engagement and collaboration with your allocated mentor, the majority of these hours must be day shift hours. This is confirmed by a declaration form signed by the Director of Nursing at the student’s place of employment before the commencement of the programme.



Documents Required

• Original transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant

• Nurse applicants: A current photocopy of NMBI 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 by Employer

• Completed Professional Reference Form

• Nurse applicants: 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.

Delivery: On Campus

X616: 1 year full-time

X751: 2 years part-time

X616: Graduate Diploma Emergency Nursing (Adult)

Full-Time: Commencing September 2025



X751: Graduate Diploma Emergency Nursing (Adult)

Part-Time: Commencing September 2025



Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

Possessing this qualification, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of emergency care settings both nationally and internationally. Many of our graduates are now working as clinical nurse managers, as advanced practitioners (with additional MSc. qualification), and in educational roles.