The MSc in Specialist Paramedic Practice is a one-calendar-year full-time programme offered to existing National Ambulance Service Paramedic staff. The year is divided between college-based learning and a variety of clinical placements including GP centres, hospitals and ambulance placements. This will be achieved through a combination of blended learning and research activity.

Applicants for the MSc in Specialist Paramedic Practice are required to:

• Hold an NFQ Level 8 BSc (Hons) Paramedic Studies or equivalent.*
• Hold active registration on a division of the professional register maintained by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council of Ireland (PHECC).
• The candidate must have two years' recent post registration clinical experience in Paramedic Practice.

*Note: Applicants who hold an NFQ Level 7 Diploma in Emergency Medical Technology or equivalent will also be considered eligible to apply.

Garda Vetting
Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise
This programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

In Part I students take core modules to the value of 30 credits and modules to the value of 30 credits from their chosen pathway. In Part II students take core modules to the value of 30 credits.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I

Core Modules
Students take 30 credits as follows:
MD6003 Professional, Ethical, Legal and Communication Issues Informing Specialist Paramedic Practice (10 credits)
MD6004 Clinical Decision Making in Advanced Practice (10 credits)
MD6005 Life-Long Learning in Paramedic Practice (10 credits)

Pathways

Students take 30 credits from their chosen pathway.

Advanced Paramedic Pathway
MD6009 Clinical Problem Solving and Patient Assessment (10 credits)
MD6010 Advanced Clinical Assessment - Maternity and Paediatrics (10 credits)
MD6011 Special Population - Assessment and Management (10 credits)

OR

Community Paramedic Pathway
MD6012 Community Paramedic Professional Practice (10 credits)
MD6013 Clinical Assessment and Decision-Making (10 credits)
MD6014 Community Paramedic Clinical Practicum (10 credits)

Part II
MD6015 Exploring Mixed Methods in Social Research (10 credits)
MD6016 Professional Research in Action (20 credits)

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: Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Paramedic Practice (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
Upon successful completion of modules to the value of at least 30 credits (including MD6003, MD6004, MD6005) students may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Paramedic Practice.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice (NFQ Level 9, Major award)
Upon successful completion of modules to the value of at least 60 credits (including MD6003, MD6004, MD6005, and (MD6009, MD6010, MD6011) or (MD6012, MD6013, MD6014)) students may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice.

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

• Comprehend, apply, and evaluate patient information relative to the role of a Specialist Paramedic Practitioner.
• Describe the critical thinking skills necessary to assess and treat patients in emergency settings.
• Apply an ethical, holistic and integrated approach to specialist paramedic practice.
• Define paramedic practice from a multidisciplinary perspective including anatomy, epidemiology and public health, medico-legal, nursing, pharmacology and physiology.
• Perform specialist paramedic skills and techniques in a safe, efficient and effective way.
• Characterise contemporary issues within socially and culturally diverse communities and prepare to respond effectively to such issues during specialised paramedic practice.
• Identify the fundamental principles underpinning modern paramedic practice management within a variety of organisational settings.
• Examine current research and developments in paramedicine and evaluate their implications in the paramedic profession.
• Conduct a focused piece of scholarly research in the area of paramedical studies.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Comprehend, apply, and evaluate patient information relative to the role of a Specialist Paramedic Practitioner.
• Describe the critical thinking skills necessary to assess and treat patients in emergency settings.
• Apply an ethical, holistic and integrated approach to specialist paramedic practice.
• Define paramedic practice from a multidisciplinary perspective including anatomy, epidemiology and public health, medico-legal, nursing, pharmacology and physiology.
• Perform specialist paramedic skills and techniques in a safe, efficient and effective way.
• Characterise contemporary issues within socially and culturally diverse communities and prepare to respond effectively to such issues during specialised paramedic practice.
• Identify the fundamental principles underpinning modern paramedic practice management within a variety of organisational settings.

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

• Comprehend, apply, and evaluate patient information relative to the role of a Specialist Paramedic Practitioner.
• Describe the critical thinking skills necessary to assess and treat patients in emergency settings.
• Apply an ethical, holistic and integrated approach to specialist paramedic practice.
• Define paramedic practice from a multidisciplinary perspective including anatomy, epidemiology and public health, medico-legal, nursing, pharmacology and physiology.