The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing is a full-time programme running for 10 months from the date of first registration for the programme. Students passing the Postgraduate Diploma will be eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a Registered Public Health Nurse.

Students take modules to the value of 60 credits incorporating 300 hours of structured contact time and clinical practicum.

Students take 60 credits as follows:

NU6041 Public Health Nursing: Principles and Professional Issues (10 credits)
NU6042 Children, Young People and Families (10 credits)
NU6043 Adults and Older People in the Community (5 credits)
NU6044 Health and Health Promotion: Concepts and Principles (5 credits)
NU6047 Clinical Placement: Public Health Nursing (5 credits)
NU6054 Maternal and Child Health Nursing (10 credits)
SS6000 Public Health, Social Services and Community (5 credits)
and
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)*
or
NU6170 Research Methods for Specialist Practice (10 credits)*

* Applicants who have previously completed NU6005 will be required to undertake NU6170.

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

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 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Practice as a competent accountable autonomous public health nurse, assessing planning, and implementing interventions on the basis of research, evidence and evaluation;
• Work in partnership to support and empower individuals and carers/families/groups and communities to influence and use available services, information and skills to the full and participate in decisions concerning their care;
• Acknowledge individuals/families/groups and communities rights to make their own decisions about their health and social well-being and set their own priorities;
• Lead/co-ordinate and/or participate in all types of community health needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health education programmes and care interventions;
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate maternal and child health care in a primary care context and within the nurse's scope of practice;
• Encourage community participation and work in partnership with voluntary workers in health enhancing activities;
• Work collaboratively within the interdisciplinary/ multidisciplinary environment to maximise their contribution to health improvement in the local community;
• Be able to identify health inequalities and take action with communities, populations and others to address issues of health, social inequalities, and social exclusion demonstrating and increased focus on public health within contemporary practice;
• Develop, implement and evaluate health promotion and health education strategies;
• Demonstrate an awareness of policy development and strategic planning in the health services;
• Act as a resource of expertise in public health within an interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary setting, demonstrating the nursing contribution to public health within contemporary practice;
• Apply leadership skills to improve the health and well being of individuals/ families/ groups and communities across a care pathway;
• Develop competence in the ability to analyse health policy and the political, social, economic and environmental factors influencing health at a National, European and international level.