Nursing Studies

Duration
This is a full-time one-year course, which runs from September to May. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.

Overview
This course is designed to enhance students awareness and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the professional nurse. It is also ideal for those who wish to pursue a career in the nursing profession or to progress to other related areas in higher education, either in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales or abroad. Students will study core areas of nursing and are enabled to put theory into practice, using Dublin College Dun Laoghaire fully upgraded nursing suites and through participation in work experience. This course is delivered by teachers, including specialist nurses who bring a real depth of experience to their teaching.  There are two fully equipped Nursing suites for all of the practical work. The success rates from this course are very high for progression to higher education in both Ireland and the UK.

Entry Requirements
One of the following:

• Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
• A Full QQI Level 4 Award (or equivalent)
• For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over), appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
• Note: For all applicants, please note that English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement. Where English is not declared as the first language of an applicant, evidence will be required of proficiency (CEFR Level B1 or equivalent).
• In the event that an applicant does not have the evidence, the college can provide testing free of charge, which must be completed prior to commencement of the course.

Course Modules

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Biology
• Care Provision and Practice
• Human Growth and Development
• Nursing Theory and Practice
• Communications
• Word Processing
• Work Experience
• Mathematics (Optional for those learners needing Maths for progression to the UK. Please see note below)
  Specialist Module Options ( Must Choose One – Caring for Children in Hospital or Maternity Care Support or Understanding Mental Health

Certification

• Level 5 QQI Award – Nursing Studies (5M4349)
• First Aid Certificate
• Manual and People Handling Certificate
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults – HSeLanD

Special Features
Jobs Fair

Due to the great demand for graduates of this course, Dublin College Dun Laoghaire hosts an annual jobs fair to help students secure employment.

This course is supported by FIT, which offers students the opportunity to acquire essential skills to gain employment. Students are given training in job interview techniques and CV preparation.

All Dublin College Dun Laoghaire students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and OneDrive.
Work Experience
Students will be required to undertake a period of work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement, but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.

The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable, and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

This programme requires students to undertake work experience that will bring them into contact with children or vulnerable adults and in which they assume positions of trust. As a result, all students will undertake Garda Vetting prior to commencing their work experience.

Applicants should be aware that healthcare environments used in work experience may insist that students are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Additional Information
Students wishing to apply for nursing in Ireland must satisfy the minimum requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) www.nursingcareers.ie

Dublin College Dun Laoghaire offers the QQI Mathematics module for students who do not have the relevant grade (Leaving Certificate, i.e. 05 or higher) for progression to Nursing in the UK.

Assessment

Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Student Record
• Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examination (Written)
• Project
• Skills Demonstration

All assignments are submitted electronically.  Therefore, all students need access to a device such as a computer/laptop.

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details.
Progression Opportunities
UK Universities (UCAS Applications): Dublin College Dun Laoghaire has established a number of links with overseas progression opportunities to Nursing Degree Programmes in the UK, in particular those offered by Sterling University and Dundee University in Scotland and Southampton University and Buckinghamshire New University in England.  Dublin College Dun Laoghaire supports students with the UCAS application.

Ireland: Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. For all QQI applicants to the CAO, the Major Nursing Award (Modules) must be achieved within one year.  Modules to achieve the Full Award cannot be combined over two years or more. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students’ responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed below.

Progression Examples
BSc General Nursing (DC215)

BSc Mental Health Nursing (DC216)

BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing (DC217)

BSc Children’s and General Nursing (Integrated) (DC218)

BSc Health and Society (DC209)

Dublin City University- www.dcu.ie
BSc Social Care (TU996)

BA Early Childhood Education (TU995)

BA Community Development and Youth Work (TU992)

Higher Certificate Pharmacy Technician Studies (TU654)

Technological University Dublin (City) – www.tud.ie
BSc Applied Psychology (DL825)

IADT, Dún Laoghaire – www.iadt.ie
BSc General Nursing (DN450)

BSc Mental Health Nursing (DN453)

BSc Nursing (Midwifery) (DN452)

BSc Nursing (Children’s and General (Integrated) (DN451)

BSc Psychology (DN720)

BSc Social Science (DN700)

University College Dublin – www.ucd.ie
BSc General Nursing (TR091, TR093)

BSc Nursing (Midwifery) (TR913)

BSc Mental Health Nursing (TR095)

BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing (TR097)

Trinity College Dublin – www.tcd.ie
BSc General Nursing (CK710)

BSc Mental Health Nursing (CK720)

BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing (CK730)

BSc Midwifery (CK740)

BSc Public Health Sciences (CK706)

BSc Children’s and General Nursing (Integrated) (CK712)

BSocSc Social Science (CK102)

University College Cork – www.ucc.ie
BSocSc Social Science (MH107)

BA Arts (MH101)

BA Psychology (MH106)

Bachelor of Social Science (MH107)

Maynooth University – www.nuimaynooth.ie