The MSc in Nursing programme comprising of 7 clinical pathways is structured into 2 parts and will typically be completed over 2 years from the date of first registration for the programme (i.e. 60 credits in Part 1 and 30 credits in Part 2).

All students will be registered for a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing in their First Year and will be registered for a MSc in Second Year. Students who opt to exit at the end of the first year will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing upon successful completion and passing modules to the value of 60 credits (applicable to all pathways - see below).

A student who subsequently wishes to continue progression for the degree of Master must complete the programme within 5 academic years from the date of successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma Examinations, subject to the programme being available.

Note: Recognition of prior learning: Applicants who already have completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing programme to the value to 30 credits will be granted exemptions for these modules in the relevant MSc/Postgraduate Diploma exit pathway (applicable to pathways 3, 8, and 11). For Pathway 2, applicants who have already completed NU5098 National Foundation Module in Critical Care Nursing or equivalent to the value of 10 credits may be eligible for an exemption for NU6171.

PROGRAMME PATHWAYS
There are 7 clinical pathways to the degree of Masters in Nursing, all of which have an exit route available for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing. The pathways to degree of Masters including Postgraduate Diploma exit route are as follows:

Pathway 1: Trauma and Emergency Nursing
Pathway 2: Intensive Care Nursing
Pathway 3: Gerontological Nursing
Pathway 5: Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice
Pathway 6: Neonatology Nursing
Pathway 8: Medical and Surgical Nursing
Pathway 11: Oncology Nursing

Pathways 4, 7, 9 and 10 have been discontinued.

For the MSc in Nursing, students choose one of the available pathways and complete modules to the value of 90 credits in total comprising 60 credits in Part 1 (typically over one year) (and may opt to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma award) and 30 credits in Part 2 (typically over 2nd year of programmes).

NOTE: For students who complete the programme without opting to take an exit route award, the Academic Transcript of Examination Results will state the cumulative nature of the award as relevant to pathway speciality.

PART 1
Part 1, typically completed in the first year of each programme pathway consists of theory modules to the value of 50 credits and a clinical practicum/practice module to the value of 10 credits. These modules (both shared and pathway specific) are listed below.

Pathway 1: Trauma and Emergency Nursing

Theory modules
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6027 Trauma Nursing (10 credits)
NU6028 Medical and Special Population Emergency Nursing (10 Credits)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 5)
NU6126 Physical Assessment for Nursing Practice (5 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)
NU6131 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 credits)

Pathway 2: Intensive Care Nursing

Theory modules
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6031 Intensive Care Nursing (10 credits)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 5)
NU6165 Health Assessment of the Critically Ill Patient (5 credits)
NU6171 Principles in Critical Care Nursing (10 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)
NU6131 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 credits)

Pathway 3: Gerontological Nursing

Core Theory modules (blended learning)
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 5)
NU6078 Ageing and Older People: Comprehensive Assessment and Management (10 credits)
NU6079 Promoting Positive Ageing and Planning for End of Life (5 credits)
NU6117 Contemporary Approaches to Neurological, Cognitive and Mental Health in Later Life (10 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)
NU6131 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 credits)

Note: Students who have successfully completed 30 credits from the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing (Gerontological Nursing) and transfer into the MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Programme must take theory modules to the value of 25 credits from above (NU6070, NU6079, NU6117) and one Clinical Practice/Practicum module to the value of 5 credits (NU6131).

Pathway 5: Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice

Theory modules
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6080 Leadership, Management & Practice Development in Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice (10 credits)
NU6172 Therapeutic Engagement, Advanced Assessment Skills & Clinical Decision Making in Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice (15 credits)
NU6173 Psychosocial and Recovery-focused Interventions in Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice (10 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules
NU6148 Clinical Practice in Specialist Mental Health Nursing I (5 credits)
NU6149 Clinical Practice in Specialist Mental Health Nursing II (5 credits)

Pathway 6: Neonatology Nursing

Theory modules
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 5)
NU6150 Nursing Management of Neonates (10 credits)
NU6159 High Dependency in Neonatal Nursing (15 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)
NU6131 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 credits)

Pathway 8: Medical and Surgical Nursing

Theory modules
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 5)
NU6085 Wound Care for Healthcare Professionals (5 credits)
NU6125 Professional Practice Issues for Nurses and Midwives (10 credits)
NU6152 Medical and Surgical Nursing of Individuals with Cardiorespiratory Problems (10 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)
NU6131 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 credits)

Note: Students who have successfully completed 30 credits from the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing (Medical and Surgical Nursing) and transfer into the MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Programme must take theory modules to the value of 25 credits from above (NU6070, NU6085, and NU6152) and one Clinical Practice/Practicum module to the value of 5 credits (NU6131).

Pathway 11: Oncology Nursing

Theory modules (blended learning):
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits) (Shared module across all pathways)
NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits) (Shared module across all pathways except 5)
NU6145 Foundations of Cancer Care (10 credits)
NU6146 Cancer Management and Supportive Cancer Care 1 (10 credits)
NU6147 Cancer Management and Supportive Cancer Care 2 (5 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules
NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)
NU6131 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 credits)

PART 2
In order to progress to Part 2 students must pass modules to the value of 60 credits in Part 1.

MH6014 Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)
NU6073 Dissertation in Nursing (20 credits)

Examinations
Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2021/2022 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2021/2022.

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

• Practise as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families across a variety of contexts with greater insights into the research-base, ethical, and professional underpinnings of nursing/midwifery and healthcare in Ireland;
• Demonstrate high levels of judgement in the practice of nursing/midwifery through the generation of knowledge for innovative nursing or midwifery practice;
• Act as innovators and leaders in a chosen area and contribute to practice development and best practice;
• Teach others from a broad and in-depth knowledge base, derived from critical reflection on practice and the development of critical inquiry of disciplinary knowledge base in nursing or midwifery;
• Enhance specialist nursing or midwifery practice through the application of well-assimilated knowledge and clinical skills;
• Exercise accountability and autonomy within the clinical and professional boundaries of the role of nursing or midwifery;
• Promote excellence in assessment and implementation of research based practice, within agreed inter-disciplinary protocols in specialist areas of nursing or midwifery practice;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of individual outcomes against specialist intervention plans for individuals and families in their specialist area of practice;
• Synthesise health related issues for the development of intervention/service responses appropriate to the needs of individuals and families in their specialist area of practice.

Programme Learning Outcomes specific to the Postgraduate Diploma exit award pathways are as follows:

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

• Enhance emergency nursing practice through the application of theoretical, practical and policy knowledge and clinical skills;
• Exercise accountability within the clinical, ethical and professional boundaries of the role of emergency nursing;
• Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for emergency nursing and its implications for practice;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of individual outcomes against specialist intervention plans for individuals and families in emergency nursing practice;
• Synthesise health related issues for the development of intervention/service responses appropriate to the needs of individuals and families in emergency nursing practice;
• Contribute as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families within the context of emergency nursing;
• Act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the provision of life long learning to ensure ongoing professional development.

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

• Enhance intensive care nursing practice through the application of theoretical, practical and policy knowledge and clinical skills;
• Exercise accountability within the clinical, ethical and professional boundaries of the role of intensive care nursing;
• Critically appraise, evaluate and integrate current research evidence and reflection for intensive care nursing and its implications for practice;
• Interpret and critically examine assessment results and data using supportive research to determine normal values and underlying pathophysiology for critically ill patients.
• Critically appraise the role of the Critical Care Nurse in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families within the context of cardiac intensive care nursing;
• Conduct a comprehensive health needs assessment of the critically ill patient
• Utilise advanced knowledge and critical thinking skills to directly and indirectly provide optimum nursing care in the critical care environment.

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

• Understand and critically evaluate the complex theories and concepts underpinning gerontological nursing practice;
• Identify and critically evaluate ethical issues in order to challenge assumptions and question values, beliefs and policies underpinning care;
• Develop and apply a critical awareness of the knowledge and skills required to promote the holistic development of a patient centred approach to the care of the older person incorporating the patient's individual needs, beliefs and values;
• Develop a collaborative, empowering and advocacy approach in working with older adults;
• Exercise accountability within the clinical, ethical and professional boundaries of the role of gerontological nursing;
• Critically appraise, evaluate and apply current research evidence and best practice when nursing older people;
• Critically appraise and apply assessment strategies, which are appropriate and sensitive to the older adult;
• Act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the provision of life long learning to ensure ongoing professional development.

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

• Understand and critically evaluate the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning specialist mental health nursing practice in order to actively contribute to the development of person-centred, co-produced and recovery oriented services through critical reflection, innovation and leadership;
• Critically appraise, evaluate, and apply current research and best practice evidence when working with people experiencing mental health problems;
• Identify and critically evaluate ethical issues and work with service users, family, friends, carers, supporters and other health care professionals;
• Challenge and question values, beliefs and policies underpinning mental health care at individual, team and organisational level;
• Critically appraise and apply advanced biopsychosocial and recovery focused assessment strategies, which are appropriate and sensitive to the service user, family, friends, carers and supporters, their situation, and context whilst applying the principles and practice of therapeutic engagement;
• Demonstrate effective, advanced knowledge and skills in the use of a range of psychosocial and recovery focused interventions and evaluate their quality, safety and effectiveness, in partnership with service users, family, friends, carers, supporters and other health care professionals;
• Develop knowledge of and skills in implementing and managing change, leadership, research, audit, quality care and inter-agency working, in order to initiate nursing-related practice developments, which will lead to the provision of high quality care for people experiencing distress;
• Develop specialist clinical competence and practice, using a recovery approach, to ensure that the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of person-centred care and clinical decision-making is based on best practice and evidence and supported through clinical supervision and practice development;
• Act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the facilitation of life long learning to ensure ongoing professional development in self and others.

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

• Enhance neonatal nursing practice through the application of well-assimilated theoretical, practical and policy knowledge and clinical skills;
• Exercise accountability within the clinical, ethical and professional boundaries of the role of neonatal nursing;
• Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for peri-operative nursing and its implications for practice;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of individual outcomes against specialist intervention plans for neonates and families in neonatal nursing practice;
• Synthesise health related issues for the development of intervention/service responses appropriate to the needs of neonates and families in neonatal nursing practice;
• Contribute as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for neonates and families within the context of neonatal nursing;
• Act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the provision of life long learning to ensure ongoing professional development.

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

• Enhance medical and surgical nursing practice through the application of well-assimilated theoretical, practical and policy knowledge and clinical skills;
• Exercise accountability within the clinical, ethical and professional boundaries of the role of medical and surgical nursing;
• Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for medical and surgical nursing and its implications for practice;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of individual outcomes against specialist intervention plans for individuals and their families in medical and surgical nursing practice;
• Synthesise health related issues for the development of intervention/service responses appropriate to the needs of individuals and their families in medical and surgical nursing practice;
• Contribute as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families within the context of medical and surgical nursing;
• Act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the provision of life long learning to ensure ongoing professional development.

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

• Enhance oncological care nursing practice through the application of theoretical practical and policy knowledge and skills;
• Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for specialist nursing and its implications for practice;
• Identify and critically evaluate ethical issues in order to challenge assumptions and question values, beliefs and policies underpinning care;
• Exercise accountability within the clinical and professional boundaries of oncology nursing.