Nursing (Childrens Nursing)

The Higher Diploma in Nursing (Children’s Nursing) Programme delivers a curriculum aligned with NMBI Standards and Requirements for Post-Registration programmes (2018) and UCD Academic Regulation (2020) underpinned by several specific philosophical assumptions concerning child and family centred care, children and their families, professional children’s nursing practice and knowledge and scholarship.

This programme aims to provide registered nursing practitioners with advanced nursing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional values, through deep understanding and collaborative practice with infants, children and young people, and their families, following a child and family-centred care approach.

Post-registered nursing students are paid employees of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and receive a salary plus increments. Fees are paid by the HSE for students undertaking this programme. Fees will be organised by the hospital when enrolment is complete. It is important to note, however, that the HSE will request repayment of fees, in the event that a student withdraws from the programme.

All applicants must:

• Registered with NMBI as RGN/RPN/RNID
• 6 months relevant nursing experience within the last 2 years up to and including 1st April of the year of application
• Students who have English as a second language must satisfy the English language requirements of the university to be eligible to apply

Please Note: If English is not your native language, unless you have completed your primary degree through English in an English-speaking country, an English language qualification is required for all programmes. Please refer to here for more details.

Desirable Criteria:

·       Experience working with or caring for children and families

·       Awareness of professional and paediatric issues

·       Management of clinical risk and quality issues

·       Experience of research-based practice and audit

Documents required:

• Copy of current Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland P.I.N.
• Copy of Birth Certificate or Personal Page of Passport.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: No

This programme is for Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) registered nurses in the divisions of General Nurse (RGN), Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) & Intellectual Disability Nurse (RNID) with a minimum of 6 months relevant nursing experience within the last 2 years.

This post-registration children’s nursing programme will provide 12 weeks theoretical instruction and 36 weeks clinical instruction comprising of placements in children’s medical/surgical wards, children’s emergency department and high-dependency care within Children’s Health Ireland (CHI). Specialist placements such as operating theatre, maternity care, intellectual disability and community care will be provided to applicants who would not have completed these placements as part of their primary undergraduate nursing degree.