Nursing & Midwifery - Primary Community & Continuing Care

Advance your professional practice and develop your skills as you explore the changing provision of healthcare both in acute medical and primary community, and continuing care settings.



The PgDip in Primary Community and Continuing Care with the RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery equips you with the required skill set to perform your roles in a quality based, consistent and efficient manner. You will advance your research skills, enhance your leadership and develop critical reflexivity on the core modules. You will then be able to carve out your own learning path by choosing three optional modules most suited to your clinical setting and professional development needs. All theoretical content is delivered online either asynchronously or synchronously with weekly live online expert or tutorial sessions.



This programme is delivered 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.



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



Suitable for

This programme is designed for healthcare professionals working in primary community and continuing care settings.

What you will learn

Advanced Research Methods

Advanced Leadership and Management – Clinical and Professional

Advancing Professional Practice

Student Module Choice 1

Student Module Choice 2

Student Module Choice 3

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.



Have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. For non-nursing applicants, you must have an active registration with an appropriate professional body.



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



Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Learning occurs in many contexts including work, involvement in social and community activities, and learning through life experience generally.



Recognition of prior learning (RPL) does not give credit for experience as such – rather, it considers learning that was acquired as a result of the experience. RPL may be used to gain admission to programmes where you may not have obtained the standard entry requirements. This is considered on a case-by-case basis.



Exemptions from programme modules that duplicate learning already demonstrably acquired through prior learning may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.



English language requirement exceptions

English language requirements for 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

Hybrid - Part-time

Next start date September 2025

Graduates of this postgraduate diploma who wish to take a further step, may enrol onto the master's programme – the MSc Primary Community and Continuing Care – and undertake Year 2 of the full programme, completing a systematic review.