Palliative Care

Practice is an integral component to the MSc Palliative Care course and as such, students are required to engage in critical analysis of their practice in relation to applying the principles and philosophy of palliative care. Students engaging in this course will concurrently be providing care to persons with Palliative Care needs and their families, at their usual (or base) clinical site. In addition, and in order to expand on students' knowledge and experience in Palliative Care, a minimum of one hundred and four hours of supernumerary clinical placements will be established with the co-operation of clinical sites within and beyond St Francis Hospice services. The difference in client caseload that each site offers will further enhance the richness of clinical exposure for the student and challenge their ability to adapt their clinical skills to match a variety of client groups. These placements will take place across a variety of clinical placement sites throughout the first year of the programme. Students undertaking the Clinical Module are required to be Garda vetted by Trinity College, Dublin.

Course Content
Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Practice
Year One
NU7706 Palliative Care: Concepts, Philosophy and Debates (10)
NU7707 Palliative approaches to pain and symptom management (10)
NU7708 Psychosocial, spiritual and therapeutic issues in palliative care (10)
Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care
Year One
NU7706 Palliative Care: Concepts, philosophy and debates (10)
NU7707 Palliative approaches to pain and symptom management (10)
NU7708 Psychosocial, spiritual and therapeutic issues in palliative care (10)
NU7013 Theory and Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare (10)
NU7020 Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance (10)
and a choice between one of the two following modules:
NU7709 Clinical Practicum Palliative Care (10) or
NU7005 Ethics and Law in Health and Social Care (10)
Master in Science in Palliative Care
Year One
NU7706 Palliative Care: Concepts, philosophy and debates (10)
NU7707 Palliative approaches to pain and symptom management (10)
NU7708 Psychosocial, spiritual and therapeutic issues in palliative care (10)
NU7013 Theory and Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare (10)
NU7020 Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance (10)
and a choice between one of the two following modules:
NU7709 Clinical Practicum Palliative Care (10) or
NU7005 Ethics and Law in Healthcare (10)
Year Two
NU8007 Dissertation (30)

Admission Requirements
Candidates for the course must have a minimum of one year's experience in delivering a palliative care approach within practice within the last two years and for the duration of the course, be employed in an area where the principles of palliative care are operationalized when caring for individuals with life threatening illness and their families. Hold an honors degree in a health professional or related subject area. Or otherwise satisfy the selection panel that they have the ability to complete and benefit from the course.

All applicants to the School of Nursing and Midwifery whose first language is not English or who have not been educated through the medium of English must present one of the following qualifications in the English language:
• IELTS: Grade 6.5 overall with a minimum of grade of 6.5 in each category
• TOEFL: 88 internet-based, 570 paper-based, 230 computer-based. The test taken here should be TOEFL IBT
• University of Cambridge:
Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2)
Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE Academic: a minimum score of 63 to be eligible (with no section score below 59)
• Duolingo English Test: minimum overall score of 110/160, dated since January 2020
• An award certificate with a minimum II.1 overall score from Trinity's Centre for English Language Learning and Teaching's Pre-sessional Pathway Programme

Please also note that existing IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and PET scores up to three years old (rather than two) will be accepted for 2020/21 applications in light of test centre closures.

Students will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, see https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/undergraduates/garda-vetting.php for further details.

Closing Date: 30th June 2023

2 years part-time.

Next Intake: September 2020

Career Opportunities
Enhancing knowledge and skills in palliative care, this course advances graduates' career prospects both in terms of promotion eligibility and post-graduate training.