Nursing & Midwifery - Critical Care Nursing - Beaumont Hosptital

Advance your theoretical knowledge and develop a critical and questioning approach as you explore professional, clinical, leadership and managerial issues relevant to care of the critically ill patient.



Enhance your clinical practice by developing an in-depth knowledge related to core concepts of critical care nursing and care of the patient with single and multi organ failure. Through the development of key research skills, you will be supported to explore evidence supporting safer patient care in this setting and emerging trends in this area.



This programme is delivered part-time by the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery via an active blended learning approach including self-directed learning and live online classes approximately once every week in Semester 1. Specialist module teaching occurs in Semester 2, delivered by clinical teachers in Beaumont Hospital with a mix of in-person and online teaching. Further support is provided through the module lead, programme director and regular online drop-in sessions.



The award title for this course is Postgraduate Diploma Nursing (Critical Care).



This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualification.



Suitable for

This programme is suitable for registered nurses working in a critical care setting in Beaumont Hospital who wish to advance their knowledge to diploma level in this area.



Accreditation and recognition

All programmes offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery are accredited by RCSI, the National University of Ireland and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Recognition by bodies in other jurisdictions must be determined by individual applicants.

Advanced Research Methods

Advanced Leadership and Management – Clinical and Professional

Advancing Professional Practice

Core Concepts of Critical Care Nursing

Care of the Critically Ill Patient with Single and Multi-Organ Dysfunction

Consolidating and Advancing Practice in the Critical Care Setting

You must:

• Hold an NFQ Level 8 qualification. However, applicants who do not hold a Level 8 qualification may still be eligible to join the programme through our supported-entry pathway programme. This is subject to an assessment of prior learning and experience.



• Have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or other registration in a country in which they are practicing if international students; For non-nursing applicants, you must have an active registration with an appropriate professional body.



• Be working in the specialist practice of the programme for the duration of the programme.



• Provide a clinical learning agreement signed by a director of nursing or designate.



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learning occurs in many contexts including work, involvement in social and community activities, and learning through life experience generally.



Recognition of prior learning (RPL) does not give credit for experience as such – rather, it considers learning that was acquired as a result of the experience. RPL may be used to gain admission to programmes where you may not have obtained the standard entry requirements. This is considered on a case-by-case basis.



Exemptions from programme modules that duplicate learning already demonstrably acquired through prior learning may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.



For more information, please contact the School of Nursing and Midwifery:

Tel: +353 1 402 2445

Email: nursing@rcsi.ie



English language requirement exceptions

English language requirements for Postgraduate programmes are published at: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/postgraduate/policies-and-guidelines/english-language-requirements



If you have completed undergraduate/postgraduate full-time studies in the medium of the English language (three or more years cumulatively) or are registered with the NMBI, you are exempt from these requirements.

1 year. Mode of delivery Hybrid - Part-time.

Next start date: September 2026.

Progression options

Graduates of this postgraduate diploma who wish to take a further step may enrol onto the master's programme – the MSc Nursing (Critical Care) – and undertake Year 2 of the full programme, completing a systematic review.