Nursing - Public Health Nursing

The Graduate Diploma Public Health Nursing helps you to develop valuable knowledge and skills in the areas of primary healthcare and community nursing leading to registration on the Public Health Nursing Division of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. You will sharpen your analytical and critical thinking and develop knowledge and skills that will help you assume the role of a public health nurse.



Course objective

The programme is designed to expand students’ knowledge, competencies and critical engagement in the care of multiple client groups in the community.



How will I benefit?

The programme will enhance your career prospects and give you the building blocks for lifelong self-directed learning. It will provide you with they key knowledge and skills in public health nursing.



What Will I Learn?

• Conduct a comprehensive health needs assessment, identify a plan to implement and evaluate care interventions. ​

• Develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion and wellbeing, health education strategies and interventions.

• Apply leadership skills to practise as an autonomous Public Health Nurse based on research and evidence-based knowledge.

• Work collaboratively with individuals and their carers, families, groups and communities to support their rights and empower them to make decisions concerning their care.

• Work collaboratively within interdisciplinary and integrated care teams to maximise contribution to health and wellbeing improvement.

• Identify health inequalities and work with communities, populations and others to address issues of health, social inequalities and social exclusion.

• Work in partnership with the voluntary sector, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and external agencies in health and wellbeing enhancing activities within the community.

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate maternal and child healthcare in a family context in line with legislation and national policy.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact and application of policy development and strategic planning in health services.



This programme is designed for nurses who are interested in expanding their knowledge base in the domain of public health nursing. An applicant must be registered on the General Division of the Nursing Register as maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS32930 Maternal & Infant Health Th&PR 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

NMHS42920 Public Health Nursing: Clinical Practicum 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

NMHS44320 Contemporary Theories & Applied Practices for Adult Populations Autumn 10

NMHS44330 Child Health and Wellbeing Autumn 10

NMHS40700 Public Health Nursing Theories & Approaches: Health Promotion & the Social Determinants of Health Spring 10

NMHS43750 Adv Res Methods HC Professional Spring 10

Be registered in the General Nursing Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or entitled to be so registered AND have a minimum of 2 years post registration general nursing experience.



OR



Be registered in the General Nursing Division and another Division of the Register, including Registered Midwife (RM), Registered Children’s Nurse (RCN), Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability (RNID) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) Divisions of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or entitled to be so registered; AND have a minimum of 12 months post registration general nursing experience as an RGN, and 12 months post registration experience as an RM or RCN or RNID or RPN.



AND



Meet the academic criteria set by the relevant Higher Education Institute (HEI); Applicants whose first language or primary language of expression is not English must provide evidence that their English language ability meets the required standard for admission. The minimum required score is 7.0 on the IELTS assessment test.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Online Application.



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: No

1 year full-time. Delivery: On Campus.



Timetable

This is a full time programme which takes place over two academic trimesters (September-June). The programme timetable is provided at the induction day in September. Students need to be available from 09.00-17.00pm for academic days in UCD and should refer to their contract of employment for clinical practice placements in their sponsoring Community Healthcare Organisation. Students are encouraged to read their contract of employment. Students who are not Registered Midwives will complete the Maternal and Infant Health Theory and Practice Module. Clinical placement will be allocated in a partner maternity hospital and students may be rostered to work 7 day/24 hour rota while on maternity placement.

X035: Graduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing PHN Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

Following successful completion of the programme, students may register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) as RPHN and practice as public health nurses. You may wish to extend your learning and complete a Master’s degree.