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 Breast Care Nursing; it is particularly aimed at preparing the nurse to assume the role of clinical nurse specialist in this area.

The Graduate Certificate in Breast Care Nursing is an academic and clinically based programme designed for students who wish to deepen and broaden their knowledge and expertise in the care of individuals with breast cancer and benign breast conditions in order provide safe, effective and holistic care to people with breast cancer and benign breast conditions. 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 breast care nursing. The programme is concerned with the promotion, enhancement and maintenance of health in the context of breast care nursing. The Graduate Certificate in Breast Care Nursing recognises that individual, family, social groupings and cultures influence the life experiences of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer/benign breast conditions and that healthcare practitioners have a social responsibility to promote health.

The Graduate Certificate in Breast Care 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 breast care 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 breast cancer clinicians and breast care specialists 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 patients with breast conditions, including critical analysis, creative thinking, decision making and communication
• To develop a greater understanding of the theory which underpins Breast Care 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 Breast 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 Breast Care 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, a practical examination (OSCE)) and occur at intervals throughout and at the end of the trimesters.

GradCert Breast Care Nursing (X684) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 7020
nonEU    fee per year - € 13860

***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 €50 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 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

Documents Required

• Applicants: A current photocopy of An Bord Altranais registration
• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport
• Signed Declaration Form from Employer (original form)
• Completed Professional Reference Form (original form)
• Applicants: 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.

The following entry routes are available:

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