Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Palliative Care)—
full-time and part-time
College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Course overview
The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Palliative Care) is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue a specialism in Palliative Care Nursing. This programme is offered full-time over one calendar year and part-time over two calendar years. Taught components of the programme are delivered in a blended learning format. Blended learning is an innovative teaching strategy which involves a combination of face-to-face and on-line learning. This means that most learning/teaching will be delivered on-line through Blackboard, an interactive learning system which connects directly to the University from your own home computer.
Students are required to attend face to face workshops for a total of 12 days across the programme. The programme is comprised of seven theory/practice modules. In all modules there is an emphasis on exploring the relevance of module content to practice, similarly, practice placements allow students to explore "new" knowledge in practice, enabling them an opportunity to integrate theory and practice. Students are required to undertake their clinical practice in an approved clinical practice setting within Ireland normally within the students' own work setting.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours before completing this programme.
Special Features
Th e course is approved by An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann and has a clinical focus, off ering opportunities to develop specialist skills. The programme is off ered through a blended learning format - a combination of online and face-to-face learning and teaching. Blended learning is an innovative and flexible approach to learning, making it possible to combine working full-time with studying.
Key facts
Entry requirements
All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:
- Be a registered nurse on the General, Mental Health, or Learning Disability Nurse divisions of the Register maintained by an Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann or Hold an appropriate active nursing registration as recognised in the country in which they practice.
- Have a minimum of two years post-registration experience in your respective field or have a minimum of one year post-registration experience in your respective field and have completed a postgraduate certificate in nursing applicable to the specialist setting.
- Be currently working in the required specialist area, i.e., Palliative Care, and have as a minimum six months clinical experience in this specialist area.
- Satisfy the selection panel that they have the ability to complete the programme.
- 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).
Duration:
1 year, full-time 2 years, part-time
Next start date: September 2013
ECTS weighting: 90
Average intake: 6
Closing date: Please see the offer round dates for further information.
Course outline
Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice (core)
Collaboration And Interagency Working/Clinical Supervision (optional
Using Evidence in Practice (core)
Palliative Approaches to Symptom Management
End-of-Life Care: Psychological and Social Perspectives
Care of the Child and Family with a Life-Limiting Illness
Service Improvement Module
Clinical Competence 1
Clinical Competence 2
Clinical Competence 3
Applications and selections
Who teaches this course?
Siobhán Smyth, RMN, Dip.CPN; RNT; PG.Dip CHSE; BNS (Hons); MSc
Dr. Pauline Meskell PhD, MSc (Nursing), BSc Health Studies, RGN, Cert. Nephrology, Counselling & Psychotherapy
Dr. Adeline Cooney, M. Med.Sc., BNS, RGN, RNT, PhD
Sinéad Hahessy, RGN, B.A., M.A.(Soc.Sc). Pg Cert in Teaching and Learning
Find out more
PAC code
GYM21, full-time GYM37, part-time
Fees for this course
EU (Total): €6,000
- Student levy: €224
Non-EU (Total): €13,750
Current students
Current student details/course
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Past students
Scott Handsaker
(2011 - 2012)
"I now work as a Clinical Nurse Consultant, Grade 2, in Palliative Care. We have five Clinical Nurse Specialists working in the field; myself and the Consultant see the patients that need specialist treatment. It's a dream job really. I wouldn't have got it without my Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care.”