Overview
Our new nursing masters at DCU, the MSc in Specialist Nursing for Future Healthcare is a two-year, part-time, blended programme that combine theoretical and clinical components offered to all nurses and midwives on the NMBI register*. The programme offers new specialist pathways aligned with, and responsive to, national health policies/strategies such as Sláintecare (2018), the National Maternity Strategy (2016), Shaping the Future of the RNID (2018), Sharing the Vision (2020) and the Children's Nursing Strategy (2021) amongst others.
*NMBI Registrants - www.nmbi.ie/Registration/The-Register-and-Divisions. This programme is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
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Careers & Further Options
Careers
Improve health service delivery and leadership through the integration of shared interfaculty core modules on offer.
- The specialist pathways on offer are currently not available in HEIs in Ireland.
- The programme is unique in that it ensures graduates from the programme are eligible for clinical specialist or management posts within services. This removes existing barriers in practice for nurses and midwives moving from one pathway to another.
- The programme greatly enhances the selection of modules on offer to nurses and midwives in Ireland at this time.
- The HSE National Clinical Care Programmes require many Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) posts to implement new models of care. This course will enable nurses to apply for the many integrated specialist positions becoming available in the HSE’s enhanced clinical care programme.
- The programme aligns with the health policy direction of national government, health services, World Health Organisation (WHO) and International evidence.
- The programme enables working nurses and midwives nationally to study flexibly using virtual and digital approaches. T
- This programme provides enhanced transversal skills to link with other disciplines such as business, governance, health intelligence and digital solutions raising the quality of nursing knowledge within the profession.
Entry Requirements
Applicants will typically hold a (NFQ) Level 8 Honours Degree with a H2.2 or equivalent. Candidates will generally hold a primary degree in a relevant discipline.
Nurses who are registered with the NMBI are eligible to apply for this programme - MSc in Specialist Nursing for Future Healthcare (DC773) from September 2023.
Please note that MSc in Specialist Midwifery for Future Healthcare (DC774) will not be running in September 2023.
In addition, candidates must:
- be currently registered in one of the following divisions of the Register of Nurses maintained by NMBI: General Nursing; Psychiatric Nursing; Intellectual Disability Nursing; Children’s Nursing, Midwifery.
- have a minimum of 12 months post registration experience, which should be 12 months full-time experience OR 24 months at minimum of 19.5 FTE.
- be currently employed in the specialist area/setting and provide written evidence, using this template, from their line manager that they will be supported in completing the minimum required hours of practice, including the clinical practicum.
- applicants must be employed for a minimum of 19.5 hours per week or 0.5 FTE.
Programme Structure
The MSc in Specialist Nursing / Midwifery for Future Healthcare is a new blended delivery national programme which will prepare nurses / midwives for specialist clinical and managerial roles. Theoretical modules will be delivered primarily online, and the programme also has a significant practice based component which will be delivered through a supervised clinical practicum combined with tutorials.
It is unique in that it offers new dedicated specialist pathways in response to contemporary issues arising in Irish healthcare. It will prepare students from public and private settings, in specialist areas of practice in line with national and international policy direction. This MSc programme is practical, contemporary and future-focused and has three exit points as follows:
MSc in Specialist Nursing / Midwifery for Future Healthcare (90 ECTS credits).
This programme is for nurses / midwives who seek dual competencies in both leadership and in their clinical specialist area.
Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing / Midwifery for Future Healthcare (60 ECTS credits).
This is an 18-month, part-time programme that will be attractive to nurses / midwives (all NMBI registrants) from public and private, acute and community settings.
Postgraduate Certificate in Integrated Healthcare Improvement for Nurses / Midwives (30 ECTS credits).
This is a one-year, part-time programme that will be attractive to senior nurses / midwives who require contemporaneous upskilling at NFQ level 9 QQI in areas such as governance, finance, healthcare leadership and management, health data analysis, digital solutions, change management, and healthcare legislation and ethics.
Applicants wishing to exit with a postgraduate certificate must register for the relevant MSc programme and all associated year one modules. Upon successful completion of the following modules (30 ETCS) students are eligible to request to exit with the alternate award of Postgraduate Certificate in Integrated Healthcare Improvement for Nurses / Midwives
- Business: Leadership, Governance and Management in Modern Healthcare (Year 1; Semester 1) (5 ects)
- Business: Finance for Modern Healthcare (Year 1; Semester 1) (5ects)
- Health Data Communication and Digital Solutions (Year 1; Semester 1) (10 ects)
In addition, one Option module must be chosen from the list below:
- Healthcare Law and Ethics (Year 1; Semester 2) (10 ects)
- Palliative Care (level 1 and 2)(Year 1; Semester 2) (10 ects)
- Person Centred Approaches to Dementia(Year 1; Semester 2) (10 ects)
- Advanced Adult General Physical Assessment and Intervention(Year 1; Semester 2) (10 ects)
The Benefits
The School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health has co-designed the new programme with input from the Centre for e-Integrated Care and Schools of Business, Law & Government and Communications at DCU. Leading nurses and midwives working in health operations, practice, education and policy have also informed the programme. In line with NMBI proposed policy direction, the specialist pathway will provide a clinical practicum that includes 500 hours of theory and practice supported in clinical sites by nursing manager and clinical supervisors. DCU will support this practicum with innovative technology and simulation.
Course Content
The MSc in Specialist Nursing / Midwifery for Future Healthcare offers 3 specialist pathways in the first year of this new postgraduate programme. Students must choose one of of the following pathways:
- Chronic Disease Management
- Health: Prevention, Promotion and Protection
- Ambulatory Gynaecology
And, complete the following core modules:
- Business: Leadership, Governance and Management in Modern Healthcare
- Business: Finance for Modern Healthcare
- Health Data Communication and Digital Solutions
- Research Methods for Modern Healthcare
- Organisational Development Project
In addition, one option module must be chosen from the list below:
- Healthcare Law and Ethics
- Palliative Care (level 1 and 2)
- Person Centred Approaches to Dementia
- Advanced Adult General Physical Assessment and Intervention
How To Apply
All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here.
The closing dates for receipt of completed applications are as follows:
- Programme not running in September 2023.
Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
Alongside the application form candidates must also provide the following as part of their application on the Student Application Portal:
- Academic transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable, this must be a primary degree of nursing/midwifery.
- CV - Please indicate that evidence of employment in the Irish Health System is required.
- A personal statement detailing experience and interest in the course, (400-500 words) the personal statement may be used as part of the selection process to determine candidate suitability.
- Letter from employer, template provided.
- If relevant, evidence of competence in English Language (see below).
- Proof of current NMBI registration.
If relevant, applicants will be asked for evidence of competence in English Language. In line with DCU’s (2019) Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, candidates who do not have the appropriate level of academic attainment for direct entry may apply for access via the Recognition of Prior Learning process (RPL) (the policy is available at: https://www.dcu.ie/sites/default/files/policy/97_-_recog_of_prior_learning_v2.0.pdf Prior learning may be formal accredited learning or experiential/uncertified learning which includes the knowledge, skills and personal qualities acquired through life, work experience and study which are not formally attested. Prospective students may apply through the RPL route if they meet one or more of the following entry 5 requirements:
- Relevant learning, qualifications and experience within their RPL application
- Holding a position or role related to health or social care, health and social inclusion promotion, or a related area
- Holding an appointment or professional position in the domain
- Professional qualifications in the domain, with clear articulation of intention to progress to work in the domain.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.