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NUI Galway

Nursing - Palliative Care

Your Course
The Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Palliative Care) is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue a specialism in Palliative Care Nursing. The programme aims to support students in developing as knowledgeable, caring practitioners who can effect positive transitions for patients from curative approaches in healing to comfort measures in caring at end of life.

The programme is offered full-time over two academic years and part-time over three academic years. On completion of the six modules in Year One (full-time) or Year Two (part-time), students have the option of being awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or if they have achieved the minimum 60% average mark across these modules may progress onto the next year to complete the MSc programme. It consists of both theoretical and clinical components. A blended learning approach is adopted in the delivery of this programme. Students are required to attend face-to-face workshops for a total of 12 days across the programme. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours before completing this programme.

3 Good Reasons To Study This Course

1. The course has a clinical focus, offering opportunities to develop specialist skills.

2. The programme is offered through a blended learning format—a combination of online and face-to-face learning and teaching.

3. This course is currently undergoing approval by The NMBI.

Entry requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

1 Be registered on the general, children's, mental health or learning disability division of the Nurse's register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI);

2 Have a minimum of one year's post-registration experience (exclusive of post-registration courses);

3 Be currently working in the required specialist area, i.e., palliative care/with people at end of life, and have, as a minimum, six months' clinical experience in this specialist area;

4 All students must complete additional clinical hours in a palliative care setting. The length of placement depends on the learning opportunities available to students in their current work setting;

5 Have an honours bachelor's degree at NFQ Level 8 in nursing or a comparable qualification. Applicants who do not hold an honours degree or Higher Diploma (Level 8) must demonstrate that they have successfully completed (in the previous two years) a module at Level 9. Please consult the professional credit awards at Level 9 at: www.nuigalway.ie/pca/pca.html;

6 Candidates registered on the Mental Health or Learning Disability division of the NMBI register must complete additional clinical hours in a palliative care setting. This requirement may apply to registered general or children's nurses depending on the learning opportunities available to them in their work setting.

Duration

2 years full-time (option to leave with PDip after 1 year).

Careers or further progression

Career opportunities
Graduates have found employment and promotion opportunities nationally and internationally.

Further enquiries

CONTACT
Laura Dempsey
T: +353 91 495 353
E: laura.dempsey@nuigalway.ie

Application date

Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

When To Apply: NUI Galway does not set a deadline for receipt of applications (with some exceptions). Offers will be issued on a continuous basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.