Nursing - Critical Care Nursing - Cardiovascular

Critical Care Nursing requires an advanced knowledge base, skilled assessment, prompt intervention and ongoing evaluation in order to care for the critically ill with complex needs. The critical care nurse maintains the balance between the science of nursing and the art of caring. This course 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 programme is highly focused on enhancing clinical practice to enable graduates to be even more effective clinicians, change agents and clinical leaders in Critical Care. Clinical and university-based lecturers with national and international expertise from clinical, research and educational perspectives. Specialist modules are offered in association with St. Vincent ’s University Hospital and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Clinical placements in Cardiovascular Nursing Care settings enable students to learn from leading experts in Cardiovascular Nursing. The student body is drawn from a number of the organisations, enabling the sharing of learning and experience between students, as well as from the academic and clinical staff. The programme employs a variety of innovative assessment strategies with a strong clinical focus. Extensive use of IT in supporting the teaching environment of the programme. Access to excellent facilities for lectures.



This course is aimed at advancing the registered nurses' repertoire of knowledge and skills for professional practice in the care of patients within the critical care environment.



The Graduate Certificate Critical Care Nursing: Cardiovascular provides you with the comprehensive knowledge and skills required for caring for the critically ill. The key knowledge and skills gained on this Programme will also enable you to innovate and lead in your area of practice in Critical Care.



What Will I Learn?

• Develop a greater understanding of the holistic 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 intensive care

• 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 skills

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



We use a range of teaching methods including lectures, workshops and seminars. Clinical teaching is undertaken by specialists in the clinical area with particular emphasis on assisting students in applying theory to practice. Clinical Placements provide students with excellent opportunities to learn from experts in other hospitals and/or within their own hospitals; students engage in supervised practice in order to develop and refine specific critical care nursing clinical skills.



Does this programme have an official conferring ceremony?

Please note there is no online or in-person conferring ceremony for this programme. Your parchment will be posted to you by UCD Conferring.



NFQ Level: 9 (40 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Certificate

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS44280: Acute Cardiovascular Care

NMHS44230: Fundamentals of Acute Care

NMHS44270: Chronic Cardiovascular Care

NMHS42510: Clinical Practicum

Entry Requirements

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

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

• Applicants must hold a Graduate Diploma in another specialist area of nursing or have obtained 30 ECT (credits) at level 9 (Masters Level in both research and theoretical aspects of nursing)

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

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

• Applicants must be employed in coronary care nursing 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 placement for the duration of the programme



Documents Required

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

• Nurse applicants: A current photocopy of An Bord Altranais 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.

1 year part-time.

Delivery:

On Campus

X782: Graduate Certificate Critical Care Nursing (Cardiovascular)

Graduate Certificate



Part-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught