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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.

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;

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) may apply but must clearly demonstrate their capacity to complete a programme at this level. In addition to the other requirements outlined above, these applicants are required to submit a 1,000-word, literature-based essay. To be considered for admission, this essay must be at the level expected of an Honours degree candidate (Level 8);

6. Candidates registered on the Mental Health or Learning Disability division of the register maintained by An Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann 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.