Nursing - Orthopaedic Nursing

Why study nursing and midwifery at RCSI Dublin?
Educating future leaders in healthcare delivery and related research is at the core of the mission of the RCSI School of Nursing & Midwifery. The School aims to develop caring, reflective nursing and midwifery practitioners who can seek out and use research-based knowledge to improve patient care.

We are committed to providing students with outcome-focused curricula shaped by innovative teaching and learning practices. We have a long association with postgraduate nursing and midwifery education and are the largest such school in Ireland.

We aspire to become recognised leaders in the provision of health sciences education, both nationally and internationally. The suite of programmes we offer nurses and midwives in pursuit of postgraduate education is continually evolving in response to the needs within the healthcare service.

Our goal is to empower nurses and midwives to be able to demonstrate the difference they make to practice, and in doing so, to be able to respond accordingly to the leadership and professional challenges that they face every day.

Course Details
The Postgraduate Diploma in Orthopaedic Nursing will prepare you to exercise an advanced level of clinical judgment and practice – beyond what is required of a registered general nurse (RGN) – in your specialist area of orthopaedic practice.

The programme aims to assist you in taking a leading role in advancing and developing nursing and midwifery in this area, and effecting policy change in professional practice and health service provision. This programme is also suitable for nurses who are taking up new posts in orthopaedic trauma or for those who have been working in the area for some time but have not completed postgraduate education. It will offer you the opportunity to enhance your knowledge, experience and clinical expertise in the challenging and dynamic environment that is orthopaedic nursing.

The programme is delivered part-time over the course of one academic year, with an option to complete the programme over a period of up to three years if necessary.

The programme is offered in two streams: elective orthopaedic care (in partnership with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh) and orthopaedic trauma, which is open to participants working in any orthopaedic trauma unit. Students in the trauma stream will undertake their studies through a combination of online lectures and classes in the RCSI Dublin Campus.

Modules
A blended learning approach is utilised in this programme, to promote lifelong learning and professional development for all nursing staff.

Cappagh modules:
Module name Credits Assessment method
Advanced Research Methods 10 Assignment
Advanced Leadership – Clinical & Professional 10 Assignment
Professional Critical Reflexivity and Competence 10 Assignment and clinical portfolio
Principles of Orthopaedic Nursing 10 Examination and assignment
Nursing the patient undergoing management of musculoskeletal issues by elective and conservative means 10 Case study and oral presentation
Nursing the Orthopaedic Trauma Patient 10 Examination

RCSI Dublin Campus modules:
Module name Credits Assessment method
Advanced Research Methods 10 Assignment
Advanced Leadership – Clinical & Professional 10 Assignment
Professional Critical Reflexivity and Competence 10 Assignment and clinical portfolio
Principles of Orthopaedic Trauma Nursing 10 Assignment
Core Concepts of Trauma Care 10 Assignment
Consolidating and Advancing practice in Trauma Care Nursing 10 Assignment

To be eligible for the programme you must:

- Be a registered nurse or midwife on the register in your country of practice.

- All applicants must hold a Bachelor degree. For applicants who don't hold a bachelor degree, there is a recognition of prior learning (RPL) pathway outlined below.

- Applicants (unless exempt) must meet the English language requirements: English proficiency test, IELTS score of 6.5 or the equivalent score on another standardised test.

- Clinical Learning Agreement/hours of learning experience document signed by director of nursing will be required

Please note: If you do not hold a level 8 qualification, you may still be eligible to join the programme through our pathway programme. Please contact us for further information on this route.

How to apply
Applications for the September intake of this programme are now open. There are two strands:

Strand A (modules delivered in partnership with National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh)

Strand B (all modules delivered in RCSI)
Please choose the strand you would like to apply for and submit an online application by clicking on the relevant apply button below.

During the application progress you will need to submit the following:

- A non-refundable application fee of €50
- Scanned copies of your transcripts

The closing date for applications is Friday, 30th June 2023.

1 year part-time. Blended Learning.

Fees and funding
•Total fees: Fees are currently being reviewed for 2020/21 and will be released shortly.

Please note
•Your annual fees include the €45 NUI fee.
•There is a non-refundable online application fee of €50.
•Fees can be paid by bank transfer, cheque (made payable to 'RCSI') or bank giro. Full details on fee payment will be emailed to you shortly before the commencement of your programme.
•You can pay your fees in three instalments – one payment of 40% is due before you commence the programme, while the remaining payments can be paid in two 30% instalments in November and February of your year of study.
•If you meet the criteria for a Non-EU student please contact us for more information on fee payments

Course Progression
If you wish to progress your studies after completing this Postgraduate Diploma, you can choose to complete a Master of Science (MSc). MSc programmes share anchor modules facilitating the development of knowledge and skills in research, leadership and refection and clinical competencies by way of a clinical practicum.