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1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Postgraduate Diploma
5. Nursing (Medical and Surgical Nursing)

Course Fact File

Code	PDNMS
Duration	2 Years - PG Diploma (Year 1); Masters (Year 2)
Teaching Mode	Full-time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
Qualifications	PG Dip / MSc
NFQ Level	Level 9
Closing Date	Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing Date	Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
Start Date	1 September 2025

Course Outline

Note: The next intake for this programme will be in September 2025

The Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Medical and Surgical Nursing, offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery at University College Cork, is a pathway of the MSc/Postgraduate Nursing Diploma.

This Medical and Surgical Nursing programme recognises the need for specialist postgraduate education to assist general nurses in meeting the challenges of increased levels of patient acuity, along with ethical and patient-safety challenges in medical-surgical settings.

Our teaching philosophy encompasses the importance of dynamic nursing staff, working within the multidisciplinary team, possessing the relevant knowledge and skills to enable them to deliver evidence-based care in a competent manner; it is essential that such care is delivered while cognisant of the needs of individual patients and their significant others.

We place particular emphasis on the development of assessment skills and early detection of patient deterioration as well as nurse-led (and multidisciplinary) interventions. The self-directed, theoretical, and physical skills learning is then applied to simulated critical, clinical incident scenarios within our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Simulation Resource Centre (CSSRC).

Programme Pathways

This programme has Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Category Two status and is awarded 60 credits at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

There are 7 clinical pathways to the degree of Masters in Nursing, all of which have an exit route available for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing. Medical and Surgical Nursing is Pathway 8 and comprises theory modules and clinical practice modules as follows:

Medical and Surgical Nursing (Pathway 8)

Year 1 (60 credits)

Theory modules

• NU6005 Evidence-Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) 
• NU6053 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Decision-making in Specialist Practice (5 credits)
• NU6070 Clinical Leadership in Practice Enhancement for Nursing and Midwifery (10 credits)
• NU6085 Wound Care for Healthcare Professionals (5 credits)
• NU6125 Professional Practice Issues for Nurses and Midwives (10 credits)
• NU6152 Medical and Surgical Nursing of Individuals with Cardiorespiratory Problems (10 credits)

Clinical Practice/Practicum modules

• NU6130 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 1 (5 credits)
• NU6131 Clinical Practice in Specialist Nursing 2 (5 credits)

Note: Students who have successfully completed 30 credits from the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing (Medical and Surgical Nursing) and transfer into the MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Programme must take theory modules to the value of 25 credits from above (NU6070, NU6085, and NU6152) and one Clinical Practice/Practicum module to the value of 5 credits (NU6131).

Year 2: MSc (30 credits)

• MH6014 Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)
• NU6073 Dissertation (20 credits)

See the Academic Calendar (PG Diploma/Masters in Nursing) for more information on this programme.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this programme, Medical and Surgical Nursing students should be able to:

• Enhance medical and surgical nursing practice through the application of well-assimilated theoretical, practical, and policy knowledge and clinical skills;
• Exercise accountability within the clinical, ethical, and professional boundaries of the role of medical and surgical nursing;
• Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for medical and surgical nursing and its implications for practice;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of individual outcomes against specialist intervention plans for individuals and their families in medical and surgical nursing practice;
• Synthesise health-related issues for the development of intervention/service responses appropriate to the needs of individuals and their families in medical and surgical nursing practice;
• Contribute as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families within the context of medical and surgical nursing;
• Act as a means of professional support, educator, and role model for the provision of lifelong learning to ensure ongoing professional development.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

All students will initially be registered for the postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (60 credits). If a student wishes to progress to the Master's degree they will be registered for the 2nd year (30 credits) part-time.

Course Practicalities

Modules are allocated a total of either 5 or 10 credits. A 10-credit module has an estimated 200 hours student workload, and a 5-credit module has an estimated 100 hours student workload. The estimated workload is further broken down into time allocated to complete the online learning component (including required reading; assignment preparation and submission as well as self-directed learning) and time allocated to attend scheduled lectures and workshops. 

The programme has elements of blended learning. This means that the course content is delivered through lectures, workshops, seminars, and tutorials in combination with online content delivery using our virtual learning environment, known as Canvas. Most classes are delivered face-to-face while some classes are delivered online.

The 10-credit modules are delivered over a six-week period and have approximately 16 hours allocated to lectures, tutorials, and workshops/simulations and there are approximately 184 hours allocated to the online learning component.

Classes are delivered on three separate days over the six-week period (normally two half-days and one full-day). The 5-credit modules are delivered over a four-week period and will be half the hours stated above (for 10-credit modules). Classes are delivered on two separate days over the four-week period (normally two half-days).

Semester 1 - September to December (16 weeks) contains 2 x 10-credit modules and 2 x 5-credit modules, one of which is a clinical practicum (16 weeks) which is undertaken in the student’s own clinical practice area over the course of the Semester. Again, most workshops, lectures, and tutorials are delivered on-campus in Semester 1, some content is delivered online using our virtual learning environment Canvas. Learning tools include module study guides, discussion boards, audio/visual resources and online assessments/activities. Ten-credit modules are delivered over 6 weeks and 5-credit modules are delivered over 4 weeks.

Semester 2 - January to May (16 weeks) contains 2 x 10-credit modules and 2 x 5-credit modules, one of which is a clinical practicum over the course of the Semester. As in Semester 1, there are on-campus workshops, lectures, and tutorials but additional simulation-based learning, of critical clinical incidents, take place in the School’s three State of the Art simulation suites to bring together the learning across both semesters. The remainder of the content is delivered online using our virtual learning environment Canvas.

· Prior to commencing the course each student taking a blended module must attend the August Programme Orientation which includes an ‘orientation to Canvas and training’ online workshop on how to use the online technology within the course. IT support will be available to students throughout the duration of the course.

Assessment

A range of continuous assessment strategies is used throughout the programme including written assignments, online activities (e-tivities), seminars, and poster presentations. Assessment of clinical competence is continuous and obtained through the acquisition of core competencies and structured self-reflections on related clinical practice experience, all of which is recorded in the student clinical practicum Competency Attainment Booklet.

Who teaches this course?

Our staff from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at University College Cork teach on this programme as well as staff from other Universities along with clinical practice specialists (and Advanced Nurse Practitioners) who are experts in their field.

Why Choose This Course

The Postgraduate Diploma Medical and Surgical Nursing programme is delivered in a blended format (a combination of classroom-based and online modules). Therefore, students are required to attend college for fewer days (see 'Course Practicalities' for details) and, instead, complete more online work. This format suits a lot of students who invariably have difficulty being released from clinical practice to attend college classes.

Students come from a variety of Health Care Providers and from very mixed clinical backgrounds which lead to excellent class discussions.

Postgraduate students from other programmes join the students for some modules. This increases the cultural diversity in relation to Health Care Provider backgrounds, from an international perspective, which in turn further enhances discussions around nurse-led clinical practice decision-making.  

Top 50 Nursing School in the World

The School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, has been ranked within the top 50 nursing schools in the world, according to the QS global subject rankings. The school provides a world-class environment for cutting-edge research to prepare tomorrow’s nurses to shape and advance health care practices through research and education. Within UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, researchers are addressing global challenges, including the growing burden of diseases, nurse workforce requirements, population ageing, and sustainable approaches to healthcare and health promotion and our teaching staff are at the forefront of these developments.

 

 

 

Requirements

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

Deferrals: Deferrals are not permitted on this course. 

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning, and professional training relevant to this programme.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• What is your current occupation/speciality?
• Please add the name and email addresses of two referees.

Please upload certification of current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

All applicants must also submit a signed Declaration Form completed by the Director of Nursing/Midwifery/Equivalent Authorised Manager. This form is downloadable here: 2023 Declaration Form PGDip Nursing pathways

Additional Information

For students who have exited this programme with the award of postgraduate Diploma and wish to return to complete the Masters within 5 years, please apply for CKX13, MSc in Nursing Studies Direct Entry Year 2.

 

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

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