This programme is for any nurse or childrens nurse currently registered in a division of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Irelands (NMBI) live Register, who feels the extension of the authority to prescribe medicinal products and refer patients for radiological procedures will enhance their role and improve the quality and standard of care they provide.  

Applicants must be currently registered in a division of the NMBI Register for the following progamme options: 

• Adult  -  Applicants must be registered as a nurse in the NMBI Register 
• Adult and Children  - Applicants must be registered as a nurse in the NMBI Register
• Children's  -  Applicants must be registered as a nurse and/or a children's nurse in the NMBI Register 

It is recommended that candidates have three years recent post registration clinical experience (this must be within the past five years) with the equivalent of one year full time experience in the specific area of practice in which prescribing of medicinal products is proposed.

Upon successful completion of the University Certificate Prescribing Medicinal Products and Referring for Radiological Procedures (Adult) education programme, the Registered Nurse will have acquired the knowledge, skill, and competence to prescribe medicinal products and refer adults for radiological procedures in a safe and effective manner within their scope of practice.  The Registered Nurse will also be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a Registered Nurse Prescriber

Referral for Radiological Procedures   At the end of this programme you will be able to:

• Critically utilize evidence-based knowledge and skill in conducting a person’s assessment and consultation to achieve a holistic approach to a person’s care when referring for medical radiological procedures
• Apply clinical decision-making skills in relation to referring persons for medical radiological and other imaging procedures within their scope of practice
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework associated with nurse authority to refer persons for medical radiological procedures, including professional guidelines, supporting safe practice
• Know the justification process
• Demonstrate an understanding of medical radiological procedures and other imaging procedures and their implication in a person’s safety
• Understand the principles of radiation protection of the person and staff
• Demonstrate effective communication skills and knowledge of the role of the multidisciplinary team management involved for the safe and appropriate use of medical radiological procedures and other imaging procedures
• Understand the role of the practitioner in the referral process
• Demonstrate knowledge of the person and practitioner safety

 Prescribing Medicinal Products  At the end of this programme you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the regulatory framework associated with prescribing, including legislation and professional guidelines, supporting safe prescribing
• Critically utilise evidence-based knowledge and skill of patient/client assessment and consultation to achieve a holistic approach to patient/client care in the prescribing of medicinal products
• Apply expert skills in clinical decision-making in relation to prescribing medicinal products
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
• Demonstrate knowledge of the role do the multi-disciplinary team and effective communication processes involved in safe medication management

View All Modules Here

September – December (Autumn Trimester)

Module 1:  Advanced Health Assessment 

Module 2:  Referring for Radiological Procedures

Module 3:  Clinical Practicum Referring for Radiological Procedures

January – May (Spring Trimester)

Module 4:  Pharmacology Nurse-Midwife Prescribing 

Module 5:  Prescribing Practice Context 

January – August (Spring & Summer Trimesters)

Module 6:  Clinical Practicum Prescribing 

*Please note:  If you have successfully completed an NFQ level 8/9 Health Assessment module you can apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) for module NMHS42960 when applying for this course.

Indicative 2023/2024 Schedule

September - December (Autumn Trimester) 

Referring for Radiological Procedures

Lectures are delivered live online over a two day period, and are scheduled as follows:  

• 14/09/23* Thursday 08.00 - 16.30pm live online lectures (Adult, Children and Adult & Children options)
• 15/09/23* Friday 08.00 - 12.30pm live online lectures (Adult, Children and Adult & Children options)
• 15/09/23* Friday 13.00 - 16.30pm live online lectures (Children and Adult & Children options)

Clinical Practicum Referring for Radiological Procedure 

The referral for radiological procedures clinical module is delivered over a 12-week period (September - December).  Clinical instruction equates to 100 hours supervised practice provided by a designated medical practitioner in the area in which the student is employed.   Students complete ten referrals for radiological procedure case studies under the supervision of the medical practitioner.   Each case is logged in the student’s clinical portfolio of evidence as a demonstration of competence.

Advanced Health Assessment

Lectures are delivered using a blended approach.  All live online lectures and face-to-face lectures are delivered on Mondays  

January - May (Spring Trimester)

Pharmacology: Nurse-Midwife Prescribing

Lectures are delivered face-to-face in the classroom on UCD campus each Wednesday.

Prescribing Practice Context

Lectures are delivered using a blended approach. All live online and face to face lectures are delivered on Wednesdays.

January - August (Spring &Summer Trimesters)

Clinical Practicum Prescribing

This clinical prescribing module is delivered over a 26 - week period (January - August).  Clinical instruction equates to 96 hours supervised practice provided by a designated medical practitioner in the area in which the student is employed.   Students complete ten medicinal product prescribing case studies under the supervision of the medical practitioner.   Each case is logged in the student’s clinical portfolio of evidence as a demonstration of competence

*Please note: 

• Online learning requires a high level of personal motivation, self-discipline, and an aptitude for self-directed learning. Brightspace (a web-based virtual learning environment) is used extensively.
• Access to broadband and proficiency in computer skills are essential.  
• All dates and times are provisional and subject to change

UCert Prescribing Meds & Referring for Rad Pro (Adult) (X909) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5000
nonEU    fee per year - € 13860

***Fees are subject to change

Funded Students: Employees of Health Services Executive Voluntary and Statutory Services 

If your Director of Nursing supports your application, and if you are an employee of the Health Services Executive Voluntary and Statutory Services, then the HSE will fund you to undertake this education programme. Please note, funded applicants must pay the €50 application fee. Your application cannot be processed fully unless the application fee has been paid.

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

Please note: UCD fees are subject to change annually.  The fees shown include the student centre levy which must be paid by all students

• Be currently registered in a division of the NMBI live Register for the following programme options:  

1. Adult  -  Applicants must be registered as a nurse in the NMBI Register 

2. Adult and Children  - Applicants must be registered as a nurse in the NMBI Register

3. Children's  -  Applicants must be registered as a nurse and/or a children's nurse in the NMBI Register 

• Be currently employed as a Registered Nurse and/or Registered Children’s Nurse in the area in which you wish to practice for the duration of the programme

• Have a minimum of three years recent post registration clinical experience (this must be within the past five years) with the equivalent of one-year full time experience in the specific area of practice in which prescribing of medicinal products is proposed.

• Hold an honours degree (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent ) . In some cases, where an applicant does not hold a Level 8 degree, an RPL application may be considered.

• Submit two Site Declaration From (i.e. (1) Prescribing of Medicinal Products and (2) Referring for Radiological Procedures) signed by the Director of Nursing, Clinical Medical Supervisor (s) and Head of Radiology agreeing to provide you with support and clinical supervision towards the achievement of the required competencies for the duration of the programme

• Be IT competent and have access to fast and reliable broadband

• Garda vetting is required for this programme. If you are offered and accept a place on this course you will automatically receive details of the vetting procedure. Please see the following link here.  All correspondence should be between students and UCD Student Vetting upon applying to these programmes. 

Documents Required

• Validated copies of Certificate/Diploma/Degree awards in Nursing 

• Original transcript(s) including date and grading of degree award (non UCD Graduates only) & notarised English translations where relevant

• A photocopy of current NMBI registration 

• A copy of your birth certificate or personal page of passport

• Evidence of proficiency in English language (applicants whose first language is not English)

• Site Declaration Form (Referring for Radiological Procedures) (Only up to date Site Declaration Forms will be accepted)

• Site Declaration Form (Prescribing Medicinal Products) (Only up to date Site Declaration Forms will be accepted)

Please note:  Failure to submit the required documentation or parts thereof prior to the application closing date will result in your application being rejected.

Please note:

• There are a limited number of places available on this programme.  All applications will be reviewed after the closing date and offers made in July. Places will be offered on a first come, first served basis to applicants who meet the entry criteria, have uploaded fully complete required documentation and paid the application fee.  Once capacity is reached, no further offers will be made.  You are advised to apply early so as to avoid disappointment.