Overview

The MSc in Specialist Paramedic Practice is an 21 month full-time programme offered to existing National Ambulance Service Paramedic staff. The programme 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.

In Year One, students take core modules to the value of 35 credits and modules to the value of 30 credits from their chosen pathway. In Year Two, students take core modules to the value of 30 credits and complete an Internship to the value of 25 credits.

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 either (MD6009, MD6010, MD6011) or (MD6012, MD6013, MD6014) or (MD6032, MD6033, MD6034), students may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 65 credits as follows - all listed core modules (35 credits) and 30 credits in their chosen pathway:
Year 1 - Part I
Core Modules
MD6003	Professional, Ethical, Legal & Communication Issues	10
MD6004	Clinical Decision-Making in Advanced Practice	10
MD6005	Life-Long Learning in Paramedic Practice	10
Pathways
Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from one of the following pathways:		30
Advanced Paramedic Pathway
MD6009	Clinical Problem-Solving and Patient Assessment (10)
MD6010	Advanced Clinical Assessment - Maternity and Paediatrics (10)
MD6011	Special Population - Assessment and Management (10)
Community Paramedic Pathway
MD6012	Community Paramedic Professional Practice (10)
MD6013	Clinical Assessment and Decision-Making (10)
MD6014	Community Paramedic Clinical Practicum (10)
Mental Health Pathway
MD6032	Understanding Mental Health Conditions (10)
MD6033	Contemporary Issues in Mental Health and Social Inclusion (10)
MD6034	Psychosocial Intervention in Mental Health Emergency (10)
Year 1 - Part II
Core Modules
MD6108	Work Placement	5
Year 2
Students take 55 credits as follows - all listed core modules (30 credits) and 25 credits in their chosen pathway:
Core Modules
MD6015	Exploring Mixed Methods in Social Research	10
MD6016	Professional Research in Action	20
Pathways
Students take modules to the value of 25 credits from one of the following pathways:		25
Advanced Paramedic Pathway
MD6109	Advanced Paramedic Specialist Internship (25) 1
Community Paramedic Pathway
MD6112	Community Paramedic Specialist Internship (25) 1
Mental Health Paramedic Pathway
MD6132	Mental Health Specialist Paramedic Internship (25) 1
Total Credits		120

¹

Internship shall commence in semester three of year one with a 5-credit Work Placement module (MD6108 Work Placement ) followed by the 25-credit Internship module in the chosen Pathway (MD6112 Community Paramedic Specialist Internship or MD6109 Advanced Paramedic Specialist Internship or MD6132 Mental Health Specialist Paramedic Internship).

Examinations

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

Programme Learning Outcomes

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.