Overview

NFQ Level 9, Major Award

The MSc in Specialist Paramedic Practice is a one-calendar-year full-time programme offered to existing National Ambulance Service Paramedic staff. The year 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 Part I, students take core modules to the value of 30 credits and modules to the value of 30 credits from their chosen pathway. In Part II, students take core modules to the value of 30 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)), 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
Students take 90 credits as follows - modules to the value of 60 credits in Part I and modules to the value of 30 credits in Part II.
Part I
Students take 60 credits as follows - all listed core modules (30 credits) and 30 credits in their chosen pathway:
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)
Part II
Students take 30 credits as follows:
Core Modules
MD6015	Exploring Mixed Methods in Social Research	10
MD6016	Professional Research in Action	20
Total Credits		90

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.