Nursing - Critical Care Nursing - Cardiovascular

The programme is designed to expand the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nurses engaged in the care of people within the critical care environment. The associated complications and special needs are explored in detail. Students are encouraged to apply their theoretical knowledge in the clinical setting. Therefore, the role of the nurse as educator, innovator, researcher, advocate and clinician will be enhanced to meet the multiple and complex needs of the person with critical illness and its complications. Critical care cardiovascular nursing requires an advanced knowledge base, skilled assessment, prompt intervention and ongoing evaluation. The critical care cardiovascular nurses maintain the balance between the science of nursing and the art of caring. The Graduate Diploma Critical Care Nursing: Cardiovascular will provide the nurse with an opportunity to develop, enhance and maintain these specialist skills that are required to care for the critically ill.



This Graduate Diploma in Nursing Studies Programme will enhance your career prospects and give you the building blocks for lifelong self-directed learning. It will provide you with the key knowledge and skills to innovate and lead in your area of practice in Critical Care Cardiovascular Nursing.



What Will I Learn?

• Develop a greater understanding of the principles which underpin the various aspects of critical care nursing particularly in relation to cardiovascular care

• Augment students' knowledge and appreciation of nursing theory and biopsychosocial sciences which underpin critical care nursing practice in a cardiovascular care setting

• Provide students with an opportunity for personal growth and professional development

• Develop skills to enhance their professional practice, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication



Programme Strengths

Highly focused on enhancing clinical practice

The programme is focused on developing practical, usable cardiovascular critical care nursing skill to enable graduates to be even more effective clinicians, change agents and clinical leaders in the Critical Care Cardiovascular workplace.



Innovative modules

Each of the modules in the programme is designed for experienced nurses and midwives and in combination, provides a comprehensive learning experience and opportunities for acquiring new skills. The emphasis throughout the programme is on the practical application of knowledge and skills in the cardiovascular critical care contexts. By incorporating clinical based scenarios and simulation, the specialty modules within this programme demonstrate the collaborative care provided to cardiovascular patients while also enhancing the nurse’s ability to think critically.



Networking

The student body is drawn from a number of the organizations, enabling the sharing of learning and experience between you and your class members, as well as from the academic and clinical staff.



Additional features

The programme partners for this Graduate Diploma, St. Vincent’s University Hospital Group and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, are critical care centers of excellence. The Programme employs a variety of innovative assessment strategies with a strong clinical focus.



This programme is for nurses who have a primary degree (or equivalent) in nursing or a related discipline with at least one year’s post registration experience, and who are engaged in cardiovascular nursing. Candidates who undertake the cardiovascular pathway must be employed in a Coronary Care Unit (CCU)/Catheterisation Laboratory/Cardiac Ward or Combined Unit at the commencement of and for the duration of the programme. Ideally the Critical Care Nursing-Cardiovascular Pathway is for those nurses with cardiology experience.



NFQ Level: 9 (60 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Diploma

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS44280: Acute Cardiovascular Care

NMHS43270: ResMethodsAppliedtoHealthcare

NMHS43140: Developing Leadership Competency

NMHS44270: Chronic Cardiovascular Care

NMHS42510: Clinical Practicum



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:

Choose one of: (A)1OF:)Students who have completed CPD module select NMHS32440 OR NMHS33990, otherwise choose NMHS44230.



NMHS33990: Fundamentals of Acute Care CPD

NMHS44230: Fundamentals of Acute Care

Entry Requirements

• All applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing and be working in a cardiovascular setting for the duration of the course. RPL applications are considered for this programme.

• All applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses Register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) (be registered as an RGN).

• All applicants must have at least one year’s post-registration experience at time of application

• All applicants must be employed in a cardiovascular setting for the duration of the programme and work a minimum of 75 hours per month

• In addition, each student must provide documented evidence from the Director of Nursing in the clinical practice area, which guarantees a coronary care nursing

• placement for the duration of the programme

Documents Required

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

• Nurse applicants: A current photocopy of NMBI registration

• Other health care professionals: A current photocopy of registration with professional registration body

• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport

• Signed Declaration Form from Employer (original form)

• Completed Professional Reference Form (original form)

• Nurse applicants: Completed Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form signed by the nominee

• 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.

60

Delivery: On Campus

X552: 1 year full-time

X744: 2 years part-time

X552: Graduate Diploma Critical Care Nursing (Cardiovascular)

Full-Time: Commencing September 2025



X744: Graduate Diploma Critical Care (Cardiovascular)

Part-Time: Commencing September 2025



Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

The key knowledge and skills gained on this Programme should enable you to innovate and lead in the area of practice in Critical Care Cardiovascular Nursing.