Nursing - Breast Care Nursing

The programme will enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for patients with malignant and benign breast conditions.



The curriculum is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills with respect to the holistic assessment and management of patients with malignant and benign breast conditions.



How will I benefit?

On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Professional Diploma in Nursing (Breast Care Nursing). This is a highly regarded qualification for nurses caring for patients with breast conditions in Ireland.



What Will I Learn?

The programme aims to develop the practitioner’s capacities for caring and competent practice in Breast Care Nursing, in order to prepare the nurse to provide patient-centred care within the health service.



This is a one (academic) year programme, broken down into two trimesters.



The specific aims of the programme are:

• To build upon and advance the student’s repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values that were developed during the course of his/her basic training and arising out of his/her experiences in clinical practice

• To provide the student with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values for the advancement of his/her role in the care of patients with breast conditions, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication

• To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins Breast Care Nursing Practice, including theory in the social and behavioural sciences and theory in the biomedical sciences

• To provide learning experiences that advance the student’s professional development and personal growth and experiences that affirm the student’s capacity to be a self-directed learner

• To advance the student’s sense of professional awareness, and commitment and a sense of professional responsibility and accountability in Breast Care Nursing

• To enable the student to value learning as a continuous process and as a necessary process in the context of his/her professional role in Breast Care Nursing.



NFQ Level: 9 (20 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Professional Diploma

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS42860: Breast Care Nursing

NMHS42580: Clinical Practicum

Entry Requirements

• Applicants must hold a Graduate/Higher Diploma in Adult Cancer Nursing

• Applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing (or equivalent in related discipline)

• Applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses Register maintained by An Bord Altranais (be registered as an RGN)

• Other criteria to be used in the assessment of the application include number of years of experience, and evidence of ongoing professional development



Specific Requirements

• Applicants must have at least one year’s experience in Breast Care Nursing at time of attendance

• Applicants must be employed in a Breast Care unit (focusing on cancer and benign conditions) or related specialist setting prior to commencing the course and for duration of the course.



Documents required:

The official closing date is July 31st, however, as places on the programme are subject to clinical placements which are limited, you are advised to have all of the required documentation submitted by July 1st.

• Certificates of nursing qualifications or validated copies of awards

• Original transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant

• A current photocopy of NMBI registration

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

• Professional Reference Form(original form)

• Declaration Form

• Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form

• Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not English).



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL may be granted in respect of individual modules if applicants can demonstrate that the modules' learning outcomes have been achieved through prior credentialled or experiential learning. In some cases, where an applicant does not meet the prerequisites for entry to a programme, an RPL application may be considered.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme.



Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page (https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax) for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

8 months part-time.

Delivery: Blended

XA02: Professional Diploma Breast Care Nursing



Part-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for patients with breast conditions, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in this area both nationally and internationally. As the programme is particularly aimed at preparing nurses to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist, many nurses eventually take up CNS positions and some may undertake further study required for the role of ANP in breast care. Many nurses also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.