Nursing & Midwifery - Care of the Surgical Patient

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

Continuing professional development is a key professional requirement for nurses and post graduate academic qualifications have been linked to positive patient outcomes through improved communication, expanded knowledge and stronger critical thinking skills. Though many postgraduate learning opportunities exist for nurses across a large number of clinical areas, limited opportunities exist for those working in the operating department (outside of larger Band 1 hospitals) and none exist which prepare the nurse to care for the pre and post-operative surgical patient in a ward setting at an enhanced level.



This six-month part-time fully-accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient) aims to address this gap. This exciting and clinically relevant programme offers participants the opportunity to consolidate and expand their knowledge in the care of the surgical patient, thus enhancing care, whilst at the same time allowing for flexibility within the workforce. The programme is designed in such a way as to allow students to choose the path most suited to their clinical practice: Pre and Postoperative Care; or Care in the Perioperative setting. The programme complements RCSI’s focus on surgical practice and support the provision of efficient, safe, and advanced high-quality healthcare, which enables people to live long and healthy lives.



The programme provides a foundation for those wishing to progress further to the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient) during which research, leadership and critical analysis skills acquired will further the students’ skills as a member of the interdisciplinary team.

Principles of Surgical Practice 10 Assignment

Strand A: Anaesthetic and Recovery Room Nursing 10 Oral presentation and assignment

Strand A: Nursing Care of the Patient in the Operating Room 10 Poster and assignment

Strand B: Enhanced Nursing Care of the Preoperative Patient 10 Poster and assignment

Strand B: Enhanced Nursing Care of the Postoperative Patient

10 Oral presentation and assignment

To be eligible for the programme you must:



- Be a registered nurse or midwife on the register in your country of practice.



- All applicants must hold a Bachelor degree. For applicants who don’t hold a bachelor degree, there is a recognition of prior learning (RPL) pathway outlined below.



- Applicants (unless exempt) must meet the English language requirements: English proficiency test, IELTS score of 6.5 or the equivalent score on another standardised test.



- Clinical Learning Agreement/hours of learning experience document signed by director of nursing will be required



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.

6 months part-time.