Nursing / Professional Studies

Programme Description
The aim of this programme is to facilitate health and social care professionals develop and augment their knowledge and skills in a manner conducive to the development of their professional practice. The Master of Health Sciences / Postgraduate Diploma (Nursing/Professional Studies) reflects many of the issues driving the current paradigm shift in health and social care delivery and will challenge the participants to reflect on their own and their work settings capacity and capability to respond to such a shift. The multi-disciplinary nature of the programme is mirroring the current and desired approach to health care delivery.

Programme Content and Structure
The Postgraduate Diploma phase provides a flexible format allowing students to choose from a suite of modules that are relevant to their own clinical and professional practice development. A total of six modules; 2 core (Advanced Research Skills and Healthcare Ethics) and 4 optional, can be completed over a 2-3-year period. A large proportion of the modules are delivered in a blended learning/e-learning format; hence requiring limited college attendance.

On successful completion of six modules students can then choose two options.

Option one: Exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences award.

Option two: Continue their studies for one further academic year, bypassing the Postgraduate Diploma (Nursing/ Professional Studies) award, and continuing to complete a 30 ECTS research dissertation module for the award of Master of Health Sciences (Nursing/Professional Studies).

Note: Students who elect to continue on to complete the Master's programme, will at the end of their studies hold a Master of Health Sciences qualification (not both a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master of Health Sciences award).

Professional/Nursing Studies Award
On successful completion of the programme and depending on the stage that the student chooses to exit the programme, students who are registered nurses will be awarded the Master of Health Sciences/Postgraduate Diploma (Nursing Studies) and students who are allied health and social care professionals, will be awarded the Master of Health Sciences/Postgraduate Diploma (Professional Studies).

Professional/Nursing Studies Award
Students must complete two core modules: Advanced Research Skills and Ethical Practice, together with four optional/choice modules within a 2-3-year timeframe. On successful completion of the programme, students who are registered nurses will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Nursing Studies) and students who are allied healthcare professionals, will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Professional Studies).

• Be a registered nurse on the Register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, or be registered on the appropriate allied health professional Register*
AND
• Be currently employed in healthcare or social care, either in: clinical practice/management/ research /education. Some modules may only be undertaken while working in a specific discipline related area. This is specified in modules descriptions.
• Applicants will normally have gained: A primary degree (health science/studies or social science/studies related) level 8 or evidence of equivalent academic credits. Students who do not have the aforementioned will be required to compile a portfolio to provide evidence of their ability to study at post-graduate level. • International students will require a degree of fluency in the English language. An overall score of 7 in the IELTS Exam (http://www.ielts.org/ for information on IELTS tests) is required.

*For those required to register with a professional body

Application Process: www.stangelas.nuigalway.ie

Go to Prospective Students and Postgraduate Programmes 4 to download an application form and to view all modules.

The Postgraduate Diploma phase of this programme 2-3 academic years duration.

The Master's phase of this programme is one academic year duration.

Download an application form from www.stangelas.nuigalway.ie
Go to Prospective Students and Postgraduate Programmes

Research/Employment Opportunities
Students are empowered in their professional practice to respond proactively to change and become key drivers in practice development. This programme will support employment and promotional opportunities within nursing and health and social care practice, management and education.