This programme has been revised. Students who entered the programme prior to 2020/21 follow the curriculum detailed on this page. Students entering from 2020/21 onwards follow the revised curriculum detailed here.

The MSc in Nursing (Advanced Practice Nursing) is available as a part-time programme completed over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme (i.e. 60 credits in Year 1 and 50 credits in Year 2).

There are both academic and clinical practice elements to this programme.

Applicants for the MSc in Nursing (Advanced Practice Nursing) are required to:

(a) have a minimum of an honours primary degree in Nursing or equivalent.

(b) hold active registration on a division of the professional register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

(c) have 3 years recent post-registration clinical experience in nursing/midwifery (within the past 5 years) with the equivalent of one-year full time experience in the specific area of practice.

(d) provide evidence of support from an employer and a completed Site Declaration Form, signed by the Director of Nursing/Public Health/authorised Nurse Manager. This must contain confirmation of a designated medical practitioner mentor and/or Advanced Nurse Practitioner mentor who will provide supervision, support and learning opportunities, including opportunities to practice under supervision to gain the required competencies and clinical competence to practice at an advanced level in nursing.

(e) if required to complete the Nurse Prescribing of Medicinal Products part of the programme, provide nomination and confirmation of a designated medical practitioner/mentor (completed Site Self-Declaration Form, signed by the Medical Practitioner/Mentor) who will provide the student with supervision, support and opportunities including shadowing opportunities to gain the required competencies for nurse prescribing in his/her practice area/organisation.

Two Year Rule
Students must pass/progress within two academic years of first registration for each year of the programme, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme. After failing a re-sit examination, students may be allowed to repeat the year. Any individual year can be repeated only once, however, a maximum of two failed years may be repeated during a student's programme of studies. Thus, students must complete their studies ordinarily within four years of registering for the MSc Nursing (Advanced Practice Nursing) programme.

Year 1
Students undertake 60 credits as follows:
GP6002 Systematic Approach to Assessment and Evaluation (10 credits)
MH6014 Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)
NU5048 Professional, Ethical, Legal and Communication Issues Informing Nurse and Midwife Prescribing and Clinical Practicum (10 credits)
NU6162 Decision Making and Advanced Practice Professional Roles (10 credits)
NU6163 Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance for Advanced Practice (10 credits)
PF5011 Holistic Approach to Prescribing Medicinal Products and Clinical Practicum (10 credits)

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

Year 2
Students undertake 50 credits as follows:
NU6160 Dissertation for Advanced Practice Nursing (30 credits)
NU6161 Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum (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 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Exit Award: MSc in Nursing Studies (Nurse Prescribing and Professional Practice)
Students who successfully complete modules to the value of 90 credits (excluding NU6161) may choose to exit the programme and be awarded an MSc in Nursing Studies (Nurse Prescribing and Professional Practice (NFQ Level 9, Major Award).

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Nurse Prescribing and Professional Practice)
Students who successfully complete modules to the value of 60 credits (including GP6002, MH6014, NU5048, NU6162, NU6163 and PF5011) may choose to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Nurse Prescribing and Professional Practice) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award).

Exit Award: Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice Nursing
Students who successfully complete modules to the value of 40 credits (including NU6161, NU6162 and NU6163) may choose to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice Nursing (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award).

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

• Demonstrate the application of ethically sound solutions to complex issues related to individuals and populations.
• Utilise advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities in clinical decision-making.
• Demonstrate the ability to contribute to the professional body of knowledge related to his/her area of advanced practice.
• Negotiate and advocate with other healthcare professionals to ensure that the rights and wishes of the person are respected.
• Manage and assess risk and promote a safe environment and quality patient/client care.
• Lead in multidisciplinary team planning for transitions across the continuum of care.
• Practice as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families across a variety of contexts and practice.
• Demonstrate creative and critical thinking abilities and reasoning skills in using theoretical, empirical, and scientific knowledge in nursing assessment, diagnosis, and practice.
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the theory and regulatory framework for the prescription of medicinal products.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSc in Nursing Studies (Nurse Prescribing and Professional Practice) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Utilise knowledge, skills, and abilities in clinical decision-making related to nurse prescribing of medicinal products.
• Demonstrate the ability to contribute to the professional body of knowledge related to his/her area of practice.
• Negotiate and advocate with other healthcare professionals to ensure that the rights and wishes of the person are respected.
• Manage and assess risk and promote a safe environment and quality patient/client care.
• Practice as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families across a variety of contexts and practice.
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the theory and regulatory framework for the prescription of medicinal products.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Nurse Prescribing and Professional Practice) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of these programme pathways, students should be able to:

• Utilise knowledge, skills, and abilities in clinical decision-making related to nurse prescribing of medicinal products.
• Negotiate and advocate with other healthcare professionals to ensure that the rights and wishes of the person are respected.
• Manage and assess risk and promote a safe environment and quality patient/client care.
• Practice as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families across a variety of contexts and practice.
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the theory and regulatory framework for the prescription of medicinal products.

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

• Demonstrate the application of ethically sound solutions to complex issues related to individuals and populations.
• Utilise advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities in clinical decision-making.
• Negotiate and advocate with other healthcare professionals to ensure that the rights and wishes of the person are respected.
• Manage and assess risk and promote a safe environment and quality patient/client care.
• Lead in multidisciplinary team planning for transitions across the continuum of care.
• Practice as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families across a variety of contexts and practice.
• Demonstrate creative and critical thinking abilities and reasoning skills in using theoretical, empirical, and scientific knowledge in nursing assessment, diagnosis, and practice.