Nursing - Gerontological Nursing - Online

The philosophy underpinning this postgraduate course values the concept of positive ageing and the unique individual characteristics of the older person. The course seeks to validate this through the development of expert gerontological nursing to meet the complex needs of older people in a variety of care settings. This course is a Postgraduate Certificate, 30 credits of a level nine programme of the National Framework of Qualifications (National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), 2003).

Why Choose This Course
With the rapidly growing older-adult population and the changing healthcare services of today, it is vital that nurses working in older-adult settings are competent to provide the highest quality of nursing care and maintain professional standards of care. The curriculum encourages you to develop an enquiring and creative approach to both the theory and practice of gerontological nursing.

Students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing to the value of 30 credits will be granted exemptions for these modules in the relevant MSc/Postgraduate Diploma exit pathway within the School of Nursing and Midwifery at UCC.

PATHWAY 1: GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING
The course comprises of four modules:

Theory modules (blended learning):

NU6005 Evidence Based practice for Health Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical and Legal Decision-Making in Specialist practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 9)
NU6078 Ageing and Older People: Comprehensive Assessment and Management (10 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum module:
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)

The Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing is a part-time programme running for 6 months from the date of first registration for the programme. Applicants choose their pathway at the application stage and all of the pathways are viewable in the College Calendar.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PATHWAY 1: GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING

Applicants for the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing should normally:

Hold active registration on a division of the professional register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or be eligible for such registration as required for individual pathways. For the Gerontological Nursing Pathway, applicants must be Registered General Nurses OR Registered Intellectual Disability Nurses OR Registered Psychiatric Nurses AND

Have clinical practice experience (and support structures, if applicable) as required for individual pathways. For the Gerontological Nursing Pathway applicants must have a minimum of six months' post-registration experience (excluding courses) and at least three months experience in the speciality pathway applied for.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available online.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country online.

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

Closing Date: June 3 2022

How Do I Apply
1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
Any supplementary items requested for your course.
Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates online.

Questions on how to apply?
Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted on this course.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
Please provide evidence of at least 6 months post registration experience.

Please upload certification of current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
All applicants must also submit a signed Declaration Form, to be completed by the Director of Nursing/Midwifery/Equivalent Authorised Manager. This form is downloadable online: Declaration form PG Cert Gerontological Nursing, CKU04

Not currently open to Non EU applicants

A range of assessments are used throughout the programme including written assignments, online activities (E. activities) and a competency book is completed for the practice modules.

6 months part time online

Start Date: Late August 2020

This course will give registered general nurses, registered intellectual disability nurses and registered psychiatric nurses the knowledge and skills to work as members of the older-adult care team in a variety of gerontological settings to meet the complex needs of older people.