Overview
(NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
The MSc (Nursing) programme comprising of 7 clinical pathways is structured into 2 parts and will typically be completed over 2 years from the date of first registration for the programme (i.e. 60 credits in Part 1 and 30 credits in Part 2).
All students will be registered for a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing in their First Year and will be registered for a MSc in their Second Year. Students who opt to exit at the end of the first year will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing upon successful completion and passing modules to the value of 60 credits (applicable to all pathways).
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.
Note - Recognition of prior learning: Applicants who already have completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing programme to the value to 30 credits will be granted exemptions for these modules in the relevant MSc/Postgraduate Diploma exit pathway (applicable to pathways 3, 8, and 11). For Pathway 2, applicants who have already completed NU5098 or equivalent to the value of 10 credits may be eligible for an exemption for NU6171.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
Module List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| NU6005 | Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals | 10 |
| NU6053 | Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice | 5 |
| NU6080 | Leadership, Organisational Change & Practice Development | 10 |
| NU6172 | Advanced Mental Health Assessment | 15 |
| NU6173 | The theory and application of psychosocial interventions. | 10 |
| NU6148 | Clinical Practice in Specialist Mental Health Nursing I | 5 |
| NU6149 | Clinical Practice in Specialist Mental Health Nursing II | 5 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
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 Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Specialist Mental Health Nursing Practice) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- Understand and critically evaluate the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning specialist mental health nursing practice in order to actively contribute to the development of person-centred, co-produced and recovery oriented services through critical reflection, innovation and leadership;
- Critically appraise, evaluate, and apply current research and best practice evidence when working with people experiencing mental health problems;
- Identify and critically evaluate ethical issues and work with service users, family, friends, carers, supporters and other health care professionals;
- Challenge and question values, beliefs and policies underpinning mental health care at individual, team and organisational level;
- Critically appraise and apply advanced biopsychosocial and recovery focused assessment strategies, which are appropriate and sensitive to the service user, family, friends, carers and supporters, their situation, and context whilst applying the principles and practice of therapeutic engagement;
- Demonstrate effective, advanced knowledge and skills in the use of a range of psychosocial and recovery focused interventions and evaluate their quality, safety and effectiveness, in partnership with service users, family, friends, carers, supporters and other health care professionals;
- Develop knowledge of and skills in implementing and managing change, leadership, research, audit, quality care and inter-agency working, in order to initiate nursing-related practice developments, which will lead to the provision of high quality care for people experiencing distress;
- Develop specialist clinical competence and practice, using a recovery approach, to ensure that the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of person-centred care and clinical decision-making is based on best practice and evidence and supported through clinical supervision and practice development;
- Act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the facilitation of life long learning to ensure ongoing professional development in self and others.
