The MSc (Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement) is a part-time online programme. This programme consists of seven 10-credit modules, and one 20-credit module. Each 10-credit module will be delivered over a six-week period with one module delivered at a time. The 20-credit Dissertation module will be delivered over 33 weeks. Successful completion of the online MSc (Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement) will allow eligibility to apply for entry into Doctorate programmes in Nursing (e.g. PhD, DN, DNP) or related disciplines.

Applicants must satisfy the following to be eligible to apply:

• Applicants must be qualified Nurses registered with the regulatory body in their country of residence.
• Applicants must have a primary degree, Level 8 or equivalent.

To access and interact with the programme content, assignments and assessments etc., students will require reliable broadband and access to at least a PC/Laptop running Windows 7 or later and Mac OSX 10.7.4. Common plug-ins such as Microsoft Silverlight, Java and Flash will also be required.
Students must have access to MS Office or an equivalent suite of applications such as Libre Office. They must also have access to a modern standards compliant web browser. UCC recommends either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. To engage productively and successfully with the content, basic technical computer skills such as familiarity with word processing, web browsing and email are recommended.

In Year 1, five 10-credit modules to the value of 50 credits must be completed before registering for Year 2. Two 10-credit and one final 20-credit module (Dissertation) to the value of 40 credits will be delivered in Year 2.

Students take 90 credits:

Year 1
Students take 40 credits as follows:
NU6301 Personal and Professional Development (10 credits)
NU6302 Practice Enhancement for Quality Nursing and Healthcare (10 credits)
NU6303 Advancing Practice for Patient Safety (10 credits)
NU6310 Evidence Based Practice for Quality Improvement in Healthcare (10 credits)

Plus one elective module (subject to availability*) to the value of 10 credits to be chosen from the following:

Elective Modules:
NU6307 Contemporary Issues and Quality Improvement in Gerontological Nursing (10 credits)
OR
NU6311 Theory of Health Assessment in Nursing (10 credits)

*Not all modules will be offered each year.

Year 2
Students take 40 credits as follows:
NU6306 Clinical Leadership for Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement (10 credits)
NU6304 Advanced Research Methods Applied to Healthcare (10 credits)
NU6309 Applied Research for Evidence Based Practice and Quality Improvement (20 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2018/2019 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2018/2019.

See also General Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement
Upon successful completion and passing modules to the value of 30 credits (Year 1), students may exit the programme with a Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement.

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement
Upon successful completion and passing modules to the value of 60 credits (50 credits in Year 1 and 10 credits (NU6306) in Year 2, students may exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement.

Six year rule
Students must pass 90 credits in the online MSc in (Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement) programme in 6 calendar years from the date of first registration for the programme. Failure to comply with this rule will mean that the student will be ineligible to proceed further with his/her studies. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the College of Medicine and Health only for very serious reasons.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSc in Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Adopt the use of professional electronic portfolio as a mode of lifelong learning;
• Enhance nursing practice and healthcare delivery through continuous quality improvement initiatives and innovation;
• Execute proficiency at advancing patient/client safety in clinical practice and at organisational level;
• Actively engage in collaborative research to enhance nursing and healthcare quality improvements in practice;
• Promote the disciplinary knowledge of nursing through application of theory to practice and identification of clinical questions for research;
• Assume clinical leadership roles that influence quality improvement in practice and organisational change.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Adopt the use of professional electronic portfolio as a mode of lifelong learning;
• Enhance nursing practice and healthcare delivery through continuous quality improvement initiatives and innovation;
• Execute proficiency at advancing patient/client safety in clinical practice and at organisational level;
• Promote the disciplinary knowledge of nursing through application of theory to practice and identification of clinical questions for research.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing and Healthcare Quality Improvement (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Adopt the use of professional electronic portfolio as a mode of lifelong learning;
• Enhance nursing practice and healthcare delivery through continuous quality improvement initiatives and innovation;
• Execute proficiency at advancing patient/client safety in clinical practice and at organisational level.