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 orthopaedics.

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.

The programme is delivered part-time over one-year; with an option to complete the programme over a period of up to three years if necessary. Once you have successfully completed this postgraduate diploma you may decide to progress to Year 2 of the Masters in Science (MSc) Nursing, in your chosen specialist area.

Learning outcomes
This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to:
• Explore problem-solving skills in the area of planned orthopaedic nursing.

• Prepare a comprehensive care plan using advanced problem solving skills for a patient undergoing elective interventions for orthopaedic problems.

• Critically discuss the principles associated with the management of common orthopaedic traumatic injuries.

• Explore problem-solving skills in the area of orthopaedic trauma nursing.

• Consolidate knowledge in relation to the development of bone, its composition, development of muscle, fracture healing, the terminology used in musculoskeletal assessment, musculoskeletal anatomy and the implications for patients of specific investigations performed to evaluate a musculoskeletal condition or injury.

• Examine the role of the nurse with reference to planning care for patients with physical/intellectual disabilities, for patients of different ages and to recognise the psychological and sociological effects of orthopaedic conditions.

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

The programme modules are:
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

Entry requirements
To be eligible for the programme you must:
• Be a registered nurse or midwife on the active register with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland, or the relevant regulatory body in your country of practice before commencing the programme.
• Hold a level 8 degree* or international equivalent, demonstrated through a defined recognition of prior learning (RPL) process.
• Meet the English Language Requirements: IELTS English proficiency test score of 6.5 or the equivalent score on another standardised test. You are exempt if you completed your undergraduate/postgraduate studies full-time in the medium of the English language (three or more years, cumulatively).

*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.

The closing date for applications is 29 June 2020

During the application progress you will need to submit the following:
•A non-refundable application fee of €50
•Scanned copies of your transcripts

1 year
Delivery: Part-time

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