Nursing - Principles of Intensive Care Nursing

The Professional Diploma in Nursing (Principles of Intensive Care Nursing) programme is a 20 credit, level 8 programme offered in partnership between the University College Dublin (UCD) School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems (SNMHS) and the Blackrock Clinic. The Intensive Care Unit in the Blackrock Clinic is a mixed surgical and medical unit.

Major Strengths

UCD has a long history of producing high quality graduates

This programme is highly focused on enhancing your clinical practice and the achievement of realistic and attainable attributes in the practice of nursing in the Intensive Care environment in the Blackrock Clinic Hospital

Clinical and university-based lecturers with national and international expertise from clinical, research and educational perspectives

The Programme employs a variety of innovative assessment strategies with a strong clinical focus

Extensive use of IT in supporting the teaching environment of the programme

Access to excellent facilities for lectures

The programme consists of 20 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits at National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) Level 8. The two modules are offered in sequence to facilitate targeted learning for the student. The programme duration is from September to May.

The two modules are as follows:

NMHS 32440: Core Theoretical Concepts of Nursing Care for the Critically Ill Patient: This module is designed to provide students with the theoretical foundation for entry into critical care nursing practice.

NMHS 32430: Theoretical and Clinical Nursing Care related to Specialised Patient Groups within the Intensive Care Unit. The module will focus on the principles and practice of Intensive Care nursing related to cardiothoracic, vascular,and thoracic surgery, also medical patients requiring advanced haemodynamic monitoring and therapeutic modalities.

All applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing (or equivalent in related discipline)/RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) consideration if applicant does not hold a degree

All applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses Register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)

All applicants must be employed in the intensive care unit in the Blackrock Clinic for the duration of the programme and work a minimum of 75 hours per month. Further information is available on the Blackrock Clinic website

In addition, each student must provide documented evidence from the Director of Nursing in the clinical practice area, which guarantees a placement for the duration of the programme

Documents required:

Transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) and notarised English translations where relevant
A current photocopy of NMBI registration
Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport
Signed Declaration Form from Employer (original form) Declaration Form
Completed Professional Reference Form (original form) Professional Reference Form
Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not Englis

Applications are made online through UCD Applications. ​​Applicants may be required to undertake an interview (either face-to-face or via telecommunication) as part of the admission process.

Please note that all applicants are required to pay a €50 application fee. Your application cannot be processed fully unless the application fee has been paid.

1 year part-time.
MODE OF DELIVERY: Face-to-Face

Next intake: 2024/2025 September