Nursing & Midwifery - Respiratory Care - Nursing

Advance your theoretical knowledge and develop a critical and questioning approach as you explore professional issues relevant to leading respiratory patient care.



With the PgDip in Respiratory Care in Nursing Practice from the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery, you will enhance your clinical practice by developing an in-depth knowledge of the respiratory systems and associated conditions that impact respiratory care.



You will also spend time evaluating approaches to planning and implementing health education, interventions, polices and strategies, alongside modules which support you to develop your academic research methods, advance your professional and clinical leadership skills, and expand your professional critical reflexivity and competence.



This programme is delivered part-time via an active blended learning approach including self-directed learning and live online classes approximately once every week. 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 (Respiratory Care).



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



Suitable for

This programme is aimed at nurses working in respiratory healthcare settings.



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

Advancing Professional Practice

Biological Science and Patient Assessment in Respiratory Care

Enhanced Care of the Respiratory Patient

Health Promotion and Behavioural Science in Respiratory Care

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 you are practising if you are an international student.



• 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 (Respiratory Care) – and undertake Year 2 of the full programme, completing a systematic review.