Nursing - Diabetes Nursing

The Graduate Diploma Diabetes Care course aims to build upon and advance the registered nurses/midwives repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values within the chosen field of diabetes care.



The Graduate Diploma in Diabetes Care is aimed at the professional preparation of registered nurses who wish to specialise in diabetes care. This strand is designed to meet the professional development needs of nurses/midwives caring for people at risk of or with a diagnosis of diabetes in clinical settings.



What Will I Learn?

• Apply critical, creative, reflective, independent thinking and problem solving to ensure clinical decision making and care is safe, effective, evidence based and person-centred in the context of diabetes care.

• Collaborate effectively with health care service users, their families, the public, peers and other members of the interdisciplinary team in a competent, compassionate and professional manner that respects autonomy, dignity and privacy.

• Demonstrate the application and integration of best practice informed by national and international research in order to advance nursing/midwifery practice and health care delivery.

• Disseminate an evidence-based care model for the person with complications associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes with the multiprofessional team.

• Formulate an appropriate treatment plan based on an understanding of the diabetes disease process present and a prediction of the likely success of the plan

• Use technology effectively to enhance personal and professional development and practice, contributing to his/her learning, and the delivery of safe, evidence based healthcare.



This programme can be taken over 2 years on a part-time basis. The academic year runs from September to May and is broken down into two trimesters.



The programme is aimed at advancing the range, breadth and depth of professional knowledge and skills in the care of persons presenting with diabetes.



NFQ Level: 9 (60 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Graduate Diploma

Stage 1 Core Modules

NMHS42430: Clinical Practicum Diabetes Care

NMHS42690: Specialist 2 Diabetes Care

NMHS42450: Specialist 1 Diabetes Care

NMHS43270: Res Methods Applied to Healthcare

NMHS42910: Specialist 3 Diabetes Care

NMHS43140: Developing Leadership Competency

Entry Requirements

• All applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing or Midwifery or equivalent and be engaged in relevant clinical practice with an appropriate client group

• All applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses/Midwives Register maintained by the NMBI

• Applicants not working in a general setting are required to complete 20% of the required clinical hours for the programme in general adult clinics either in their own hospial/parent hospital



Specific requirements

• All applicants must have a minimum of one year’s post-registration experience, including at least six months caring for people with diabetes

• Candidates must be employed in the clinical environment caring for people with diabetes prior to commencing the course and for the duration of the course

• Candidates who are not employed full time in a diabetes setting are advised to secure clinical exposure to general adult clinics in order to achieve all learning outcomes.

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

• For those applicants not working in a general adult setting, it is vital that the applicant ensures that they arrange access to general adult clinics, in their own hospital or in a parent hospital

(Places On This Programme Are Limited And Are Offered On A Rolling Basis)



Documents Required

All Documents Required Must Be Submitted Before Applications Can Be Reviewed

• 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 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 by Employer

• Completed Professional Reference Form

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

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

• Garda Vetting is required for this programme. If you receive and accept an offer for the programme, you will automatically receive details of the vetting procedure



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.

Delivery: On Campus

X548: 1 year full-time

X749: 2 years part-time.

X548: Graduate Diploma Diabetes Nursing

Full-Time: Commencing September 2025



X749: Graduate Diploma Diabetes Nursing

Part-Time: Commencing September 2025



Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

The Graduate Diploma in Diabetes Care provides you with the comprehensive knowledge and skills required to manage a defined case load, working unsupervised and using specialist diabetes nursing/midwifery skills to assess the needs of the person with diabetes and to plan, implement, document and evaluate care. Many graduates also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.