Nursing - Nursing Education

Your Course
The Master of Health Sciences (Nursing Education), Major Award, is at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications and leads to candidate eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a Registered Nurse Tutor. The course is aimed at nurses working in the public, voluntary or private sectors who wish to pursue an educational career path, and aims to prepare nurses to be able to teach competently and confidently in a variety of clinical and educational settings. Students are required to gain 100 hours of teaching experience over the two years. The programme is delivered using blended learning which combines face-to-face and online learning. Modules (see details of these on our course website) are assessed using a combination of coursework, practice and teaching assessments. To support their skill development, students are expected to complete 100 hours of teaching practice/facilitation during the programme. Students are also expected to gain expertise in a wide range of teaching methods, including lecturing, small group teaching and clinical skills teaching as well as engagement with online teaching using teaching technologies in the virtual learning environment.

Minimum Entry Requirements
All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:
1. Have an honours bachelor's degree at NFQ Level 8 in Nursing or a comparable qualification. Applicants who do not hold an honours degree or Higher Diploma (Level 8) must demonstrate that they have successfully completed (in the previous two years) a module at Level 9. If you wish to apply for a Level 9 module, please consult: www.nuigalway.ie/pca/pca.html;

2. Be a registered nurse on the General, Mental Health, or Learning Disability Nurse divisions of the active register maintained by NMBI; or hold a professional nursing qualification deemed to be equivalent by NUI Galway;

3. Have practised as a nurse for three years post-registration (exclusive of post-registration/educational programmes);

4. Have negotiated a placement in a third-level School/ Department of Nursing Education or Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Education establishment, which will provide the opportunity to meet the practice requirements of this programme.

WHEN TO APPLY: NUI Galway does not set a deadline for receipt of applications (with some exceptions). Offers will be issued on a continuous basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply throughout the year and before the end of June (preceding commencement of the programme in September).

2 years, part-time.

Career Opportunities
Graduates of this programme of study have found employment in various health service settings, third-level institutions of education, Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Education, Nursing Midwifery Practice Development Units and the private sector.