Nursing - Gerontological Nursing

Meeting the healthcare and social care needs of older people requires expert assessment and careful planning by a range of disciplinary experts with specialist knowledge of ageing and altered health. If you are a nurse working in an older persons’ care setting, and you are committed to the provision of excellent care, the Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing offers an exciting and innovative way to further your career and enhance your professional development. This programme is designed to provide nurses with an opportunity to develop, enhance and maintain the specialist skills required to care for older adults in a variety of acute and community care environments.



How will I benefit?

Successful participants in this programme will be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing. Credits obtained from this programme will readily contribute to an MSc degree for those who wish to pursue that option in the future.



You will be taught by academics who have strong links with local and regional health service providers, including major hospitals and community-based health services and clinical staff who are experts in the field of health care and gerontological nursing.



Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for older adults, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in this area both nationally and internationally. The programme is particularly aimed at preparing nurses to assume senior and specialist roles in gerontological nursing.



What Will I Learn?

The UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems provides graduate programmes to prepare nurses and midwives to excel as caregivers and as leaders. Many of the School’s graduates have gone on to assume key clinical and leadership positions in their discipline, both nationally and internationally. This programme will provide you with an opportunity to develop, enhance and maintain the specialist skills that are required to care for older persons.



The Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing aims to provide students with the requisite knowledge and discipline-specific skills for their specialist role in gerontological nursing in a range of care settings. The Programme will build on students’ prior knowledge and experience in either older person’s care services or in tertiary care. The Programme will:

• provide an advanced educational experience which will develop the student’s capacity for independent judgement and problem-solving skills.

• provide an educational framework to support the development of analytical and critical skills for an enquiring and creative approach to the theory and practice of gerontological nursing.

• develop the student’s capacity to respond to changing needs in gerontological nursing.

• develop the student’s capacity to identify and integrate best evidence into gerontological nursing practice.



We use a range of teaching methods including lectures, workshops and seminars. A blended model of teaching and learning is a deliberate part of the programme to facilitate flexibility and accessibility. Clinical teaching is undertaken by specialists in the clinical area with particular emphasis on assisting students in applying theory to practice.



The Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing consists of 6 modules. If you decide to apply for the one year full-time progrmme (X914) you will complete all six modules in one academic year.



If you wish to apply for the two year part-time programme (X915) you will complete three modules each year.



NFQ Level: 9 (60 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Diploma

Stage 1 Options - A) 1 of:

Students who applied via LHP Skillnet must select the following 5 modules: NMHS44050, NMHS44070, NMHS44060, NMHS44040 & NMHS43270. All other students select 6 modules: NMHS43980, NMHS44050, NMHS43270, NMHS44070,NMHS44040 and NMHS44060.



NMHS44070: Clinical Practicum: Geront

NMHS43270: ResMethodsAppliedtoHealthcare

NMHS44040: Ageing and Health

NMHS44050: Reablement of the older person

NMHS43980: Adv.Health Assessment (Spring)

NMHS44060: Integrated Care: Lead & Dev QS

Entry Requirements

• Hold a minimum of a BSc honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. Applicants not holding an honours bachelor’s degree may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.

• Be currently registered in one of the following divisions of the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI): General Nursing; Psychiatric Nursing; Intellectual Disability Nursing

• Have a minimum of twelve months’ post-registration experience

• Be currently employed in an older persons’ care setting, such as an older person’s clinical department in a hospital, the community setting, a residential care setting or a day hospital and provide written evidence that they will be supported in completing the minimum required hours of practice, including the clinical practicum

• Applicants not currently employed in an older persons’ care setting may apply; however, they will be required to be employed in an older persons’ care setting upon commencing the programme.

• Applicants must be employed for a minimum of 19.5 hours per week or 0.5 FTE.



Required Documents

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

• A current photocopy of NMBI registration

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

• Professional Reference Form(original form)

• Declaration Form

• Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form

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



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

X914 - Full-Time: 1 Year

X915 - Part Time: 2 Years

X914: Graduate Diploma Gerontological Nursing

Full-Time: Commencing September 2025



X915: Graduate Diploma Gerontological Nursing

Part-Time: Commencing September 2025



Graduate Taught