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University College Cork

Nursing - Medical Surgical Nursing - Online

The course aims to equip registered nurses with current evidence based knowledge and skills for application to medical and/or surgical patiently care contexts. The course aims to challenge nurses to think critically and creatively about patient care and the clinical contribution that nursing can make to positive patient outcomes.

The programme aims to:

enhance nursing practice through the application of well-assimilated knowledge and clinical skills

act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the provision of life long learning to ensure ongoing professional development

exercise accountability within the clinical and professional boundaries of the role of nursing

contribute as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families across a variety of contexts.

Critically examine contemporary social, cultural and policy contexts of medical-surgical nursing.

All postgraduate programmes contain some element of blended learning. This means that modules are delivered on campus with face-to-face contact with lectures (teaching and learning strategies include lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials) in combination with some online content delivery using our virtual learning environment Blackboard (teaching and learning strategies include module study guides, discussion boards, audio/visual resources and online assessments/activities).

Prior to commencing the course each student taking a blended module will be provided with an orientation to Blackboard and training on how to use the online technology within the course. IT support will be given to students throughout the duration of the course.

For nurses who wish to study over a "short" period of time e.g. just one semester (September-December), they can register for the PG Certificate in Medical-Surgical Nursing programme. Previous students who successfully completed the PG Certificate programme took a year's break from studying and then returned the following academic year to join the next cohort of students in semester two in order to complete the PG Diploma in Nursing Medical-Surgical pathway. Students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma now have the choice to proceed directly into the Master's programme.

Entry requirements

The Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing is a part-time programme running for 6 months from the date of first registration for the programme. The Certificate has six pathways and applicants choose their pathway at the application stage. The pathways are as follows:

Pathway 1: Gerontological Nursing
Pathway 2: Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Disabilities (Not on offer 2019/2020)
Pathway 3: Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pathway 4: Nursing in the Community (Not on offer 2019/2020)
Pathway 5: Nurse/Midwife Prescribing
Pathway 6: Orthopaedic Nursing

Entry Requirements

Applicants for the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing should normally:

(a) hold active registration on a division of the professional register maintained by An Bord Altranais or be eligible for such registration as required for individual pathways:

Pathway 1: Applicants must be Registered General Nurses or Registered Intellectual Disability Nurses or Registered Psychiatric Nurses.

Pathway 2: Applicants must be Registered Nurses in Intellectual Disability or Registered General Nurses/Registered Children's Nurses/Registered Psychiatric Nurses currently working in an intellectual disability setting.

Pathway 3: Applicants must be Registered General Nurses.

Pathway 4: Applicants must be either Registered General Nurses or Registered Intellectual Disability Nurses or Registered Children's Nurses or Registered Psychiatric Nurses or Registered Midwives.

Pathway 5: Applicants must be either Registered General Nurses or Registered Intellectual Disability Nurses or Registered Children's Nurses or Registered Psychiatric Nurses or Registered Midwives.

Pathway 6: Applicants must be Registered General Nurses.

(b) have clinical practice experience (and support structures, if applicable) as required for individual pathways:

Pathways 1 and 3: Applicants must have a minimum of six months' post-registration experience (excluding courses) and at least three months experience in the speciality pathway applied for.

Pathway 2: Applicants who are Registered Nurses in Intellectual Disability must have a minimum of six months' post registration experience (excluding courses) and at least three months experience in intellectual disability nursing OR if a Registered General/Children's/Psychiatric nurse must have a minimum of one year's post-registration experience (excluding courses) in intellectual disability nursing.

Pathway 5: Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years post-registration experience (excluding courses). The required experience must have been gained within the past 5 years with at least one year in the area in which prescribing is proposed. In addition, applicants must (ii) demonstrate continuous professional development and ability to study at Level 9; (iii) provides support from employer and completed Site Self-Declaration Form, signed by the Director of Nursing/Midwifery/Public Health; (iv) provide nomination and confirmation of a designated medical practitioner mentor (completed Site Self-Declaration Form, signed by the Medical Practitioner/Mentor) who will provide the student with supervision, support and opportunities including shadowing opportunities. Applicants must contact their Director of Nursing/Midwifery/Public Health to discuss the identified need for nurse/midwife prescribing in his/her practice area/organisation.

Pathway 6: No experience required but must work in orthopaedic speciality area

Note Re. Pathway 4: Applicants for Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing in the Community are not required to have community nursing experience at the point of entry to this programme pathway.

Note Re. Pathway 7: Applicants for Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Oncology are not required to have oncology nursing experience at the point of entry to this programme pathway.

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please click here to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests.

Duration

6 months part-time

This programme will be taught online

Further enquiries

Contact details for this course
Michele Hughes
M.Hughes@ucc.ie
+ 353 21 490 1456
http://www.ucc.ie/en/nursingmidwifery/

Subjects taught

Pathway 3: Medical and Surgical Nursing

Theory modules:

NU6005 Research Methods (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)

NU6053 Ethics for Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 9)

NU6125 Professional Practice Issues for Nurses and Midwives (10 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum module:
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)

Candidates who successfully complete all modules to the value of 30 credits in the PG Certificate in Nursing programme may apply to transfer into the relevant pathway of the MSc in Nursing programme with the option of exiting with a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Medical-Surgical) award at the end of an additional 12 months.