GradDip Critical Care Nursing (Children)

Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 60)

A Graduate Diploma Critical Care Nursing (Children) will build on your existing knowledge and skills in caring for infants, children and young people within the paediatric intensive care setting. Possessing this advanced knowledge will enable you to utilise a range of therapeutic interventions, and enhance your ability to review differing approaches and trends in the care and treatment of infants, children and young people in paediatric critical care nursing.

The Graduate Diploma Critical Care Nursing (Children) programme aims to build upon and advance the registered nurse’s repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values, in order to prepare the nurse to assume the role of a nurse specialist in this area of care. The programme aims to develop the practitioner’s capacities for caring and competent practice in paediatric intensive care nursing, in order to prepare the nurse to provide a patient-centred service within health care.

On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing (Children) from the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems. The programme is recognised nationally and internationally.

What will I learn?
The curriculum is designed to enhance your knowledge and skills with respect to the holistic assessment and management of the child and their family.

Programme strengths

Students will undertake placements in clinical sites in the PICU in either the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street, or Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, you will rotate on occasion between both hospitals to experience nursing care of a wide spectrum of specialities which includes care of neonates, care of the child with a thermal injury, cardiac care, care of child post renal transplantation, care of child with a neurological disorder
Lectures are both clinical and university-based and are delivered by a wide range of specialists. These include specialist nurses, intensivists, university lecturers, radiologists, dieticians, physiotherapists, and members of pastoral care
There is a strong emphasis on continuous progression of clinical ability and clinical effectiveness through continuous assessment, clinical examinations, and case presentations
The delivery of specialist modules on care of the critically ill infant/child with altered respiratory function, altered cardiovascular function, and complex care needs
Flexible pathway – may be undertaken over 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Extensive use of IT in supporting the teaching environment of the programme
Access to excellent facilities for lectures

Careers & Employability

Careers/Where Can I Go?
The Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing (Children) provides you with the comprehensive knowledge and extensive skills required for caring for infants and children in the critical care setting, thereby equipping you to work nationally or internationally. Academically there are opportunities to continue to Masters / PhD level, and clinically you may choose to further your expertise to facilitate critical care education, to take a position as a Clinical Nurse Manager or Clinical Nurse Specialist or to study for the role of Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Curricular information is subject to change

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Who should apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

This programme is designed to meet the professional development needs of Registered Nurses who wish to specialise in Paediatric Critical Care Nursing. Specifically applicants should be registered as an RCN, RCN/RGN with a minimum of one year’s experience in Paediatric Intensive Care. Applicants registered as an RGN with a minimum of 2 years experience in Paediatric Nursing may be considered for the programme. Applicants should be employed in either the Intensive Care Unit of Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin, or the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. Places are allocated on the programme subject to availability and place on waiting list.

Programme Outcomes

The Graduate Diploma Critical Care Nursing (Children) course aims to build upon and advance the registered nurse’s repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values, in order to prepare the nurse to assume the role of a nurse specialist in this area of care. The course aims to develop the practitioner’s capacities for caring and competent practice in paediatric intensive care nursing, in order to prepare the nurse to provide a patient-centred service within health care.

The specific aims of the course are:

To build upon and advance the student’s repertoire of knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values that were developed during the course of his/her basic training and arising out of his/her experiences in clinical practice
To provide the student with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values for the advancement of his/her role in the care of children and their families in critical care, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication
To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins critical care nursing practice, including nursing theory, theory in the social and behavioural sciences and theory in the biomedical sciences
To provide learning experiences that advance the student’s professional development and personal growth and experiences that affirm the student’s capacity to be a self-directed learner
To advance the student’s sense of professional awareness, and commitment and a sense of professional responsibility and accountability in paediatric critical care nursing
To enable the student to value learning as a continuous process and as a necessary process in the context of his/her professional role in paediatric critical care nursing

What modules can I take?

View All Modules Here

Programme Structure:
The course may be taken over 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. Assessments are varied (assignments/short examination questions/MCQ/case presentation/practical examination/online discussion boards) and occur at intervals throughout and at the end of the trimesters. Students will attend college on one day per week and learning experiences are also undertaken in planned block weeks of study, at local hospital sites.

Curriculum
You will complete six modules in total, to include two core modules and four specialist modules.

Core Modules:

NMHS42230 - Leadership and Organisational Dynamics (Autumn Trimester)

NMHS43270 - Research Methods Applied to Healthcare (Spring Trimester)

Specialist Modules:

NMHS43700 Fundamental Concepts Children's Critical Care (Autumn Trimester)

NMHS43720 Advanced Children's Critical Care (Spring Trimester)

NMHS43730 Specialist Considerations in Children's Critical Care (Spring Trimester)

NMHS42460 - Clinical Practicum: Paediatric Critical Care Nursing (Autumn & Spring Trimesters)

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

GradDip Critical Care Nursing (Children) (X617) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 9670
nonEU fee per year - € 18480

GradDip Critical Care Nursing (Children) (X748) Part Time
EU Year 1 - € 4990
nonEU Year 1 - € 9380
EU Year 2 - € 4820 ^aa
nonEU Year 2 - € 9090 ^aa

^aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2023 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2022/23
***Fees are subject to change

Funding

If the fees for your programme are being paid by a third party (full or partial), please ensure your funding organisation/sponsor/hospital contacts student.payments@ucd.ie. Please note this is not a student facing email address.

Student Queries

If you have any queries about your fees, please contact the Student Desk:

www.ucd.ie/askus

https://www.ucd.ie/students/studentdesk/

Application Fee

Please note that all applicants are required to pay the €60 application fee. Your application cannot be processed fully unless the application fee has been paid.

More information about fees is available on the UCD website at the link below:

General information about UCD Fees

Entry Requirements

Applicants should be registered as an RCN, RCN/RGN with a minimum of one year's experience in Paediatric Intensive Care
Applicants registered as an RGN with a minimum of two year's experience in Paediatric Intensive Care may be considered for the programme

Documents Required

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
Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport
Signed Declaration Form from Employer (original form)
Completed Professional Reference Form (original form)
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. Further information can be found in respect of this here.

Testimonial

"I had been working as a bedside staff nurse in the PICU for 14 years when I did the Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing (Children). I completed the course in 2018 and was successful in securing the role as ECLS Coordinator in CHI at Crumlin. It is a complex and constantly evolving role that is dependent for its success on the ability of the post holder to co-ordinate, train, support, develop and influence senior clinical and management staff in a way to maximise best use of resources. The Graduate Diploma through UCD provided me with a strong knowledge-base to have confidence in taking the role. The presentations, practical and team activities contributed significantly to develop my communication and collaboration skills."

Sunimol Joseph

Clinical Nurse Manager 3, Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Co-ordinator, Children's Health Ireland.

How to apply?

The following entry routes are available:

Grad Dip Critical Care Nursing (Children) FT (X617)

Duration

1 Years

Attend

Full Time

Deadline

Rolling*

Apply Now

Grad Dip Critical Care Nursing (Children) PT (X748)