Nursing - Emergency Nursing - Children

UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems In partnership with Our Lady's Children's Hospital and the Children's University Hospital.

This one-year, part-time Graduate Diploma is designed to meet the professional educational needs of registered nurses caring for children and adolescents within the emergency department setting. It aims to advance your professional awareness, commitment, responsibility and accountability in paediatric emergency care nursing.

It will build on your existing knowledge and skills in caring for acutely ill or injured children who present to the emergency department

It will provide you with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values for the advancement of your role in the care of children and their families in emergency care, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication

On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Graduate Diploma in Paediatric 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. With it, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of paediatric emergency care settings both nationally and internationally. Many of our graduates are now working in diverse roles such as nurse managers, educators, researchers and advanced practitioners.

Specialist modules and clinical placements are offered in close partnership with the Emergency Departments of Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC), the Children's University Hospital (CUH) and other acute care delivery sites. This facilitation of access to different hospital sites results in valuable learning opportunities for our students. You will have key support and guidance by two experienced ED Clinical Facilitators who are based in these two EDs.We use a range of teaching methods including lectures, workshops and seminars and our assessment methods are diverse and student-oriented. Clinical teaching is undertaken by specialists in the clinical area with particular emphasis on assisting students in applying theory to practice. The clinical placements provide students with excellent opportunities to learn from experts in other hospitals; students attend multidisciplinary tutorials and engage in supervised practice in order to develop and refine specific clinical skills. Some basic computer knowledge, such as word processing and accessing the internet is needed, as communication with our students is primarily by e-mail. You will be allocated a UCD e-mail address on registration. Lecture handouts and announcements are available to students via Blackboard (a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that supports online learning and teaching) and/or via email. Messages from the University regarding examination policy and procedures are also sent via email.

We use a wide range of innovative teaching methods including lectures, workshops and online media. This programme spans one academic year and includes six modules.

Autumn Trimester runs from September to December. Spring Trimester runs from the middle of January to early May.

Autumn Trimester

Module 1: Research Methods Applied to Healthcare
Dates: 2-5pm Mondays x 12; Sept- end of Nov.
Assessments: (i) In class test* (ii) MCQ* (iii) Written exam*- December. *Subject to change

Module 2: Care of the Acutely Ill Child
Dates: Study week start of term - Sept.
Clinical placement days x 3 - Oct.
Assessments: (i) Workbook - early Dec. (ii) Nursing Rounds – November.

Module 3: Clinical Practicum
Dates: Spans both trimesters
Assessments: CCAT

Spring Trimester

Module 4: Nursing Knowledge: Philosophy and Practice
Dates 2-5pm every 2nd Monday x 6; January - end of April
Assessments: (i) Team debate* (ii) Group project* (iii) Written exam* *Subject to change

Module 5: Care of the Acutely Injured Child

Dates: Study week start of term – Jan. Clinical placement days x 3 - March/April
Assessments: (i) Workbook* (ii) Written exam.* – May *Subject to change

Module 6: Care of the Child with Specific Needs
Dates: Clinical placement days x 2 - April/May. Study week in March.
Assessments: (i) Case Presentation - April (ii) Written rationale - April

Students taking the programme over two years will take the two core modules in year 1 and the four specialist modules in year 2.

Registered with NMBI as a Registered General Nurse* or registered Children's Nurse.

Have at least 12 month's experience in emergency nursing care.

Currently employed in an ED where children also attend.

Other criteria include previous experience and evidence of ongoing professional development.

Every application is reviewed on an individual basis – extra clinical placements may be required.

*If you are an RGN - you must identify a Preceptor/Mentor in your own clinical site who has an RCN qualification/who has completed a Higher/Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Emergency Nursing.

PLEASE NOTE - THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS 01, AUGUST, 2022.

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

Nurse applicants: Completed Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form signed by the nominee

Other health care professionals: A current photocopy of registration with professional registration body

Photocopy of Birth Certificate or photocopy of Personal Page of Passport

Signed Declaration Form by Employer

Completed Professional Reference Form

Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not English)

Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) applications must be submitted online through your SISWeb account.

There are two instances in which you can apply to have recognised prior learning taken into account when applying for a programme in UCD.

1. RPL for admission to a UCD programme

If you are a prospective student seeking admission to UCD and you do not meet the required admissions criteria as set down for a particular programme of study in UCD, you may apply to be admitted based on prior learning.

2. RPL for exemption from a module or modules on a UCD programme

If you have been accepted onto a UCD programme and wish to have credit transferred towards the requirements of the UCD programme of study, you may apply for RPL from a module or modules.

When applying for RPL, please note the following:

You must submit your application for RPL as early as possible and preferably before you commence the relevant module/stage/programme.

An application for RPL relating to a particular module should be submitted before the third week of the trimester in which it is offered. Applications made after this date will only be accepted under exceptional circumstances.

Your application will be reviewed by the Taught Graduate Standing Committee and Programme Board. You can expect to hear of the outcome or status of your application typically within four to six weeks of submitting it (depending on committee schedules).

Please note that in some cases your application may not be successful or you may not receive RPL for the amount of credit for which you applied, therefore you must register for, attend and participate in the module or modules until you have been informed of the decision of the School Programme Board.

If your application is not successful, you are responsible for all assessments associated with the module.

TO APPLY FOR RPL PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://sisweb.ucd.ie/usis/W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=APPLY

Please read the UCD Policy on Recognition of Prior Learning at this link: UCD Policy on Recognition of Prior Learning

Closing Date:
30 July 2022 - Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and programmes will close once they are filled. We advise you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Applications are made online through UCD Applications. ?Applicants may be required to undertake an interview (either face-to-face or via telecommunication) as part of the admission process.

Please note that all applicants are required to pay a €50 application fee. Your application cannot be processed fully unless the application fee has been paid.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.