Nursing & Midwifery - Care of the Surgical Patient - Nursing

Advance your theoretical knowledge and develop a critical and questioning approach as you explore professional, clinical, leadership and managerial issues relevant to care of the surgical patient with RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery. Enhance your clinical practice by developing an in-depth knowledge of the principles of surgical care choosing between the perioperative strand or the preoperative/postoperative strand.



Through the development of key research skills, you will be supported to explore evidence supporting safer patient care in these settings and emerging trends in these areas.



This programme is delivered part-time via an active blended learning approach including self-directed learning and live online classes approximately once every week. Further support is provided through the Module Lead, Programme Director and regular online drop-in sessions.



The award title for this course is Postgraduate Diploma Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient).



This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.



Suitable for

This programme is suitable for nurses working in perioperative or pre/post operative care settings.

What you will learn

Advanced Research Methods 1

Advanced Leadership and Management – Clinical and Professional

Advancing Professional Practice

Principles of Surgical Practice

Strand A

Anaesthetic and Recovery Room Nursing

Strand B

Enhanced Nursing Care of the Preoperative Patient

Strand A

Nursing Care of the Patient in the Operating Room

Strand B

Enhanced Nursing Care of the Postoperative Patient

Applicants must hold an NFQ Level 8 qualification. However, applicants who do not hold a Level 8 qualification may still be eligible to join the programme through our supported-entry pathway programme. This is subject to an assessment of prior learning and experience.



Must have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or other registration in a country in which they are practicing if international students.



Must be working in the specialist practice of the programme for the duration of the programme.



Must provide a clinical learning agreement signed by a director of nursing or designate.



Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirements above, you may still be eligible to apply through recognition of prior learning (RPL). RPL is the assessment of knowledge, skills and competence previously acquired.



Learning occurs in many contexts which include work, involvement in social and community activities, or learning through life experience generally. RPL does not give credit for experience as such; rather it considers the learning that was acquired as a result of the experience.



RPL may be used to gain:



Admission to courses/programmes where a person may not have obtained the standard entry requirements.

Exemptions from course modules which duplicate the learning outcomes an individual has already demonstrably acquired through prior learning.



English language requirement exceptions

English language requirements for RCSI Postgraduate programmes are published at https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/postgraduate/policies-and-guidelines/english-language-requirements



If you have completed undergraduate/postgraduate full-time studies in the medium of the English language (three or more years cumulatively) or are registered with the NMBI, you are exempt from these requirements.

1 year



Mode of delivery

Online - Part-time

Next start date September 2025

Graduates of this postgraduate diploma who wish to take a further step may enrol onto the Masters programme – the MSc Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient) – and undertake Year 2 of the full programme, completing a systematic review.