Nursing - Specialist Nursing

This part-time, blended-learning programme enables you to choose one of two specialist pathways: Chronic Disease Management or Women’s Health.



Designed by the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health in partnership with leading nurses and midwives, the pathways address contemporary Irish healthcare issues and prepare students to work in specialist areas.



Throughout your study, you’ll learn how to develop a person-centred approach to care, design a structured treatment plan, work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and develop your specialist knowledge and leadership skills to enhance practice and improve patient outcomes.



Blending theory with practice

Theory is mostly taught online, while you’ll gain supervised practical experience and some skills are developed in our labs..



Once you graduate, you will have enhanced practice in your specialist area of care, with respect to assessment, novel treatment modes, health promotion approaches, research-based practice and health policy pertinent to your specialism.



The MSc in Specialist Nursing offers two specialist pathways, students must choose one of the following:



Chronic Disease Management

Women's Health

The MSc in Specialist Nursing is a two-year, part-time programme delivered in a flexible, blended-learning format using a mix of face-to-face, online learning activities and learning in the practice context. This enables students to consider how their learning impacts their field of practice in improving health and wellbeing outcomes, and ensures the acquired knowledge supports their professional development in their working environment.



The MSc in Specialist Nursing offers two specialist pathways, students must choose one of the following:



Chronic Disease Management

Women's Health

In year 1, students will complete the two modules relevant to their chosen specialist pathway:



Chronic Disease Management:



Adult Chronic Disease Management Specialist 1

Adult Chronic Disease Management Specialist 2

Women's Health:



Women’s Health Specialist 1

Women’s Health Specialist 2

Students will complete the following core modules:



Health Communications and Digital Solutions

Research and Evaluation Methods

Nursing Leadership and Change Management

Students also choose one of the following optional modules:



Adult Physical Assessment and Intervention

Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Person-Centred Dementia Care

Safeguarding Adults at risk



In year 2, this programme offers students a choice of undertaking a research dissertation or a practice development project, allowing students to tailor the programme for their chosen career path.

DC778 - MSc in Specialist Nursing (Adult Chronic Disease Management)



Applicants will typically hold a (NFQ) Level 8 Honours Degree with a H2.2 or equivalent. Candidates will generally hold a primary degree in a relevant discipline.



In addition, candidates must: be currently registered in one of the following four divisions of the Register of Nurses maintained by NMBI: General Nursing; Psychiatric Nursing; Intellectual Disability Nursing or Children’s Nursing.



Have a minimum of 12 months post registration experience, which should be 12 months full-time experience OR 24 months at minimum of 19.5 FTE.



Be currently employed in the specialist area/setting and provide written evidence, using this template, from their line manager that they will be supported in completing the minimum required hours of practice, including the clinical practicum.



Applicants must be employed for a minimum of 19.5 hours per week or 0.5 FTE.



DC778 - MSc in Specialist Nursing (Women's Health)



Applicants will typically hold a (NFQ) Level 8 Honours Degree with a H2.2 or equivalent. Candidates will generally hold a primary degree in a relevant discipline. This must be a primary degree of nursing



In addition, candidates must: be currently registered in one of the following divisions of the Register of Nurses maintained by NMBI: General Nursing; Psychiatric Nursing; Intellectual Disability Nursing; Children’s Nursing, Midwifery.



Have a minimum of 12 months post registration experience, which should be 12 months full-time experience OR 24 months at minimum of 19.5 FTE.



Be currently employed in the specialist area/setting and provide written evidence, using this template, from their line manager that they will be supported in completing the minimum required hours of practice, including the clinical practicum.



Applicants must be employed for a minimum of 19.5 hours per week or 0.5 FTE.

2 years part-time, blended learning.

Careers

The programme prepares graduates to advance their career in specific clinical specialist areas and in leadership and management positions within the health care service.