The MSc in Nursing Studies is a part-time programme running over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme.

There is an opportunity to exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Studies, provided a student has passed 60 credits in Year 1.

A number of modules may be offered using a blended learning approach with the majority of the content of these modules delivered in an online mode.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Year 1

Core modules:
NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)
NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits)
NU6201 Personal and Professional Portfolio (10 credits)

plus elective modules (subject to availability*) to the value of 30 credits to be chosen from the following:

NU6019 Person Centred Care (10 credits)
NU6074 Nursing and Midwifery Management and Development (10 credits)
NU6076 Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Practice (10 credits)
NU6120 Patient Safety (10 credits)
NU6125 Professional Practice Issues for Nurses and Midwives (10 credits)

* Not all modules will be offered each year.

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

Year 2
MH6014 Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)
NU6073 Dissertation in Nursing (20 credits)

*Alternatively students may take up to a maximum of 10 credits, relevant to the MSc programme with the approval of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and subject to timetabling restraints, in lieu of 10 credits above.

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

Note: A student may not register for the Second Year of the programme until the First University Examination for the MSc (Nursing Studies) has been passed. However, under certain circumstances (outlined under Direct Entry to Year 2 above), students may be eligible for Direct Entry to Year 2, without having taken the First University Examination.

Examinations
Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

See also General Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Exit award: Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Studies (60 credits)
Upon successful completion and passing Year 1 modules to the value of 60 credits students may exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Studies.
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

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

• Exercise enhanced personal and professional competence through accountability and autonomy in professional practice;
• Practise with greater insight of the research-base, ethical, socio-political and professional underpinnings of nursing/midwifery and health care in Ireland;
• Demonstrate higher levels of judgement in the practice of nursing/midwifery through the generation of nursing knowledge for innovative nursing and midwifery practice;
• Act as innovators and leaders in a chosen area and contribute to practice development and best practice;
• Demonstrate vision of professional practice that can be developed beyond scope of practice;
• Demonstrate critical inquiry, research evaluation and synthesis skills to the study of a discrete area of professional practice.

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

• Exercise enhanced personal and professional competence through accountability and autonomy in professional practice;
• Practise with greater insight of the research-base, ethical, socio-political and professional underpinnings of nursing/midwifery and health care in Ireland;
• Critically reflect on the process of enhancing the contribution of nursing to the delivery of patient care;
• Systematically and critically review research evidence as applied to an area of professional practice;
• Critically reflect on how practitioners engage with evidence based practice.