Nursing - Critical Care Nursing

Why study nursing and midwifery at RCSI Dublin?

Educating future leaders in healthcare delivery and related research is at the core of the mission of the RCSI School of Nursing & Midwifery. The School aims to develop caring, reflective nursing and midwifery practitioners who can seek out and use research-based knowledge to improve patient care.



We are committed to providing students with outcome-focused curricula shaped by innovative teaching and learning practices. We have a long association with postgraduate nursing and midwifery education and are the largest such school in Ireland.



We aspire to become recognised leaders in the provision of health sciences education, both nationally and internationally. The suite of programmes we offer nurses and midwives in pursuit of postgraduate education is continually evolving in response to the needs within the healthcare service.



Our goal is to empower nurses and midwives to be able to demonstrate the difference they make to practice, and in doing so, to be able to respond accordingly to the leadership and professional challenges that they face every day.



Course details

The Postgraduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing will prepare you to exercise an advanced level of clinical judgment and practice – beyond what is required of a registered general nurse (RGN) – in your specialist area of critical care.



The programme aims to assist you in taking a leading role in advancing and developing nursing and midwifery in this area, and effecting policy change in professional practice and health service provision. It will also offer you the opportunity to enhance your knowledge, experience and clinical expertise in the challenging and dynamic environment that is critical care.



The role of the nurse as a clinician, patient advocate, researcher, educator and innovator are all developed to meet the multiple and complex needs of the patient with critical illness. This programme is suitable for nurses who are taking up new posts in critical care or for those who have been working in the area for some time but have not completed postgraduate education.



The programme is delivered part-time over the course of one academic year, with an option to complete the programme over a period of up to three years if necessary.



Prospective students who are working in Beaumont Hospital can apply for the hospital-based programme, delivered in partnership with Beaumont Hospital. Students working in other locations will undertake their studies through a combination of online lectures and classes in the RCSI Dublin campus.



Course codes



Strand A (RCSI/Beaumont): C1207BEAUMONT

Strand B (RCSI): C1207 RCSI

Modules

Beaumont modules

Module name Credits Assessment method

Advanced Research Methods 10 Assignment

Advanced Leadership, Professional & Clinical 10 Assignment

Professional Critical Reflexivity and Competence 10 Assignment and clinical portfolio

Core Concepts of Critical Care Nursing 10 Assignment

Care of the Critically Ill Patient with Single and Multi-Organ Dysfunction 10 Examination

Consolidating and Advancing Practice in the Critical Care Setting 10 Assignment



RCSI Dublin Campus modules

Module name Credits Assessment method

Advanced Research Methods 10 Assignment

Advanced Leadership, Professional & Clinical 10 Assignment

Professional Critical Reflexivity and Competence 10 Assignment and clinical portfolio

Principles of Critical Care 10 Assignment

Advanced Critical Care 1 10 Case Study Assignment

Advanced Critical Care 2 10 Case Study Assignment

To be eligible for the programme you must:

• Be an active RGN with the NMBI.

• Hold a NFQ level 8 qualification such as a BSc or equivalent.

• Be currently working in the speciality area.



Please note:

*If you do not hold a level 8 qualification, you may still be eligible to join the programme through our pathway programme, please contact us for further information on this route.

1 year part-time. A blended learning approach is utilised in this programme, to promote lifelong learning and professional development for all nursing staff.

Course progression

If you wish to progress your studies after completing this Postgraduate Diploma, you can choose to complete a Master of Science (MSc). MSc programmes share anchor modules facilitating the development of knowledge and skills in research, leadership and refection and clinical competencies by way of a clinical practicum.