GradCert Adult Cancer Nursing

Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 40)

The programme will enhance your existing knowledge and skills in caring for adults with cancer.

The programme aims to develop the practitioner’s capacities for caring and competent practice in Adult Cancer Nursing, in order to prepare the nurse to provide patient-centred care within the health service.

How will I benefit?
On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Adult Cancer Nursing). This is a highly regarded qualification for nurses caring for adults with cancer in Ireland.

Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for adults with cancer, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in this area both nationally and internationally. As the programme is particularly aimed at preparing nurses to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist, many nurses eventually take up CNS positions and some may undertake further study required for the role of ANP in cancer nursing. Many nurses also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.

Careers & Employability

Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required for caring for adults with cancer, you will be well positioned to work in a variety of settings specialising in this area both nationally and internationally. As the programme is particularly aimed at preparing nurses to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist, many nurses eventually take up CNS positions and some may undertake further study required for the role of ANP in cancer nursing. Many nurses also proceed to assume CNM/Educational/Clinical Facilitator roles.

Curricular information is subject to change


Part Time option suitable for:

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

The programme is aimed at advancing the registered nurse’s repertoire of knowledge and skills in the care of Adults with cancer; it is particularly aimed at preparing the nurse to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist in this area.

This is a good option for nurses who have already completed a level 9 Graduate Diploma in another nursing specialty. This is a good option for nurses who have already completed a level 9 Graduate Diploma in another nursing specialty. Please see information below regarding RPL application process.

The Graduate Certificate in Adult Cancer Nursing is an academic and clinically based programme designed for students who wish to deepen and broaden their knowledge and expertise in cancer care in order provide safe, effective and holistic care to adults with cancer. The programme builds upon and advances students’ existing knowledge, skills and values to promote students’ capacities for critical thinking and critical self-appraisal. The purpose of the programme is to advance the students' sense of professional awareness, commitment, professional responsibility and accountability in the context of cancer care. The programme is concerned with the promotion, enhancement and maintenance of health in the context of cancer. The Graduate Certificate in Adult Cancer Nursing recognises that individual, family, social groupings and cultures influence the life experiences of individuals diagnosed with cancer and that healthcare practitioners have a social responsibility to promote health.

The Graduate Certificate in Adult Cancer Nursing curriculum is student-focused, research-led and research informed. A wide variety of pedagogical approaches to teaching, learning and assessment are used to enhance the student experience, thereby, encouraging the incremental development of learning. The curriculum is developed with stakeholder involvement to ensure that it meets the current and future needs of cancer nurses who work in a complex and evolving healthcare system. Learning takes place in multiple environments across the university and clinical setting. Learning is facilitated by the use of a variety of innovative pedagogies and technologies to meet emerging student, professional and health system needs.

The involvement of cancer clinicians in teaching and assessment is a major strength of the programme. Other strengths of the programme include student centred clinical placements in designated cancer centres and programme co-ordination by a programme director with clinical expertise in cancer nursing, appropriate education and research qualifications and who is actively undertaking cancer-related research.

  • 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 adults with cancer including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication
  • To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins Adult Cancer Nursing practice, including 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 Adult Cancer 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 Adult Cancer Nursing

View All Modules Here

This is a one (academic) year programme, broken down into two semesters. Assessments are varied (assignments/short examination questions/MCQ/case presentation and clinical assessments (Clinical Competency Assessment Tool, Clinical Learning Outcomes and occur at intervals throughout and at the end of the trimesters.

GradCert Adult Cancer Nursing (X682) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 7370
nonEU    fee per year - € 14550

***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

 

  • Applicants must hold a primary degree in Nursing (or equivalent in related discipline)

  • Applicants must be entered onto the appropriate division of the Nurses Register maintained by An Bord Altranais (be registered as an RGN)

  • Applicants must hold a Graduate Diploma in another specialist area of nursing or have obtained 30 ECT (credits) at Level 9 (Masters Level in both research and theoretical aspects of nursing)

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

  • Applicants must have at least one year’s experience in Adult Cancer Nursing at time of attendance

  • Applicants for the Adult and Children’s Cancer Nursing strands will be required to demonstrate competency in the administration of systemic anti-cancer treatments and will therefore normally be based on oncology/haematology wards and/or oncology/haematology day wards (preferably rotating across both settings) prior to and for the duration of the programme. Applicants for the Adult and Children’s Cancer Nursing strands who are caring for patients with cancer but who are not based in the aforementioned settings will require a letter of support from their Assistant Director of Nursing undertaking to facilitate a placement in oncology/haematology for at least 6 weeks over the course of the programme.

Documents Required

  • Transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant
  • Certificates of nursing qualifications or validated copies of awards
  • Original transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant
  • A current photocopy of NMBI registration
  • Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport
  • Professional Reference Form (original form)
  • Declaration Form
  • Clinical Competence Assessor Nomination Form
  • 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.

 

The following entry routes are available:

Grad Cert Adult Cancer Nursing PT (X682)
Duration
1 Years
Attend
Part Time
Deadline
Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Does this programme have an official conferring ceremony?

Please note there is no online or in-person conferring ceremony for this programme. Your parchment will be posted to you by UCD Conferring.