| Code | PDPN |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years Part-time |
| Teaching Mode | Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info. |
| Qualifications | PG Dip |
| NFQ Level | Level 9 |
| EU Fees | €7,130 (€3,565 per annum) See Fees and Costs for full details. |
| Non-EU Fees | €14,410 |
| Closing Date | Not on offer 2023/24 |
| Start Date | Not on offer 2023/24 |
Course Outline
The Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing will be delivered in blended learning format over two academic years. The aim of this programme is to challenge nurses to think critically and creatively about practice nursing and to enable students to develop their knowledge and skills in order to keep pace with developments in the field of primary care. On completion of this programme students will be equipped with the necessary theory, practical and policy knowledge required for the professional development of the practice nurse in primary care. This Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing offers healthcare professionals a flexible option to study while they continue to work and validate their professional experience. Students who enrol in the Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing will do so for their career progression, research capacity building, higher specialist training, and general interest in practice nursing.
The overall aim of this blended learning Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing is to offer professionals a flexible option to study while they continue to work and in many cases to validate their professional experience. This postgraduate diploma will be delivered in blended learning format over two academic years, with 30 credits being delivered each year. All students commencing will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards in order to progress to the next year of their programme.
PG Diploma in Practice Nursing Core Modules (Year 1)
Students complete modules to the value of 30 credits
- GP6003 Principles & Context Of Primary Care And General Practice (5 Credits)
- NU6155 Clinical General Practice Nursing 1 (5 Credits)
- NU6157 Child Growth & Development (5 Credits)
- NU6070 Practice Enhancement For Nursing And Midwifery (10 Credits)
+ One elective module to be chosen to the value of 5 credits.
Elective options (Year 1, Semester 1):
- NU6053 Ethics For Specialist Practice (5 Credits)
- GP6005 Women’s Health In General Practice (5 Credits)
- NU5087 Practice And Principles Of Health Promotion (5 Credits)
PG Diploma in Practice Nursing Core Modules (Year 2)
Students complete modules to the value of 30 credits
- NU6005 Research Methods (10 Credits)
- NU6156 Clinical General Practice Nursing 2 (5 Credits)
- GP6004 Chronic Disease Management In General Practice (5 Credits)
+ Two elective modules to be chosen to a total value of 10 credits i.e. 2 x 5 credit or 1 x 10 credits
Elective options (Year 2, Semester 2):
- NU6085 Wound Care For Health Professionals (5 Credits)
- NU6158 Evidence-Based Cervical Screening (10 Credits)
- NU5077 Diabetes Management (5 Credits)
- GP5100 Diabetes In Primary Care (10 Credits)
- MH5085 Obesity Management & Prevention Training For Healthcare Professionals (5 Credits)
There will be a choice of elective modules to choose from in the area of:
- wound care
- health promotion
- women’s health
- ethics
- cervical screening
- diabetes
- obesity management and prevention.
Students will be closely supported by the programme coordinator, staff involved in each module, and the online learning technologist within the School of Nursing. Academic writing skills, Blackboard training, and library tours will also be made available to all students. Each student will have a clinical preceptor who will receive training from the School of Nursing and Midwifery to support their clinical experience.
Additional Teaching Mode Information
Blended learning over 2 academic years
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.
Course Practicalities
For each 10 credit blended learning module there is an estimated 200 hours student workload. The breakdown of these hours is:
- 184 hours distance online and technology learning, and 16 hours of face-to-face contact in University College Cork (lectures, workshops).
The breakdown for 5 credit theory modules will be half the hours stated above for 10 credit modules.
Assessment
A blended approach to assessment will involve both e-tivities and traditional approaches. Each assessment is alignment to the module learning outcomes. A range of continuous assessments are used across the modules. These may include a literature review, academic essays, case studies, online presentations, poster presentation, online discussion forums, quizzes, accumulative report writing, reflective journals, clinical workbook and clinical visits. Modules will be delivered by staff from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of General Practice, and CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme.
Who teaches this course
Staff, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of General Practice, Health Service Executive and CervicalCheck–The National Cervical Screening Programme.
Why Choose This Course
This Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing offers healthcare professionals a flexible option to study while they continue to work and validate their professional experience. Students who enrol in the Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing will do so for their career progression, research capacity building, higher specialist training, and general interest in practice nursing.
Skills and Careers Information
What can I do after i Graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing?
The postgraduate programme prepares nurses to critically review their practice to increase effectiveness in patient-centred care in primary care. On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- Enhance clinical nursing practice through the application of well-assimilated policy, theoretical, and practical knowledge.
- Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for practice nursing and its implications for practice.
- Exercise accountability within the clinical, ethical and professional boundaries of the role of practice nursing.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of individual outcomes against specialist intervention plans for individuals and their families in primary care.
- Synthesise health related issues for the development of intervention/service responses appropriate to the needs of individuals and their families in primary care.
- Contribute as a learned member of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of quality healthcare for individuals and families within the context of practice nursing.
- Act as a means of professional support, educator and role model for the provision of lifelong learning to ensure on-going professional development.
Occupations associated with Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing
- Private General Practice- Practice Nurse/ Clinical Nurse Manager
- Health Service Executive- Advanced Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist/Community Nurse
What are our graduates doing?
Postgraduate students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC have positions in the private and public health sector working as:
- Advanced Nurse Practitioners,
- Clinical Nurse Specialists,
- Clinical Nurse Managers,
- Public Health Nurses,
- Community Nurses,
- Specialist Nurses in Oncology, Orthopaedics, Emergency, Gerontology, and Intensive Care.
Requirements
- Applicants must be Registered General Nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI);
- Applicants must have a minimum of twelve months post-registration experience (excluding courses);
- Applicants must be currently working in general practice or provide written evidence that they have identified a general practitioner (GP) practice where they can undertake clinical placement.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.
Fees and Costs
The EU fee for this course is €7,130 (€3,565 per annum).
The Non-EU fee for this course is €14,410.
Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026
See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.
Deposits
If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.
Fee payment
Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.
Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page.
(€3,500 per annum)
How To Apply
1. Check dates
Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the yellow fact file boxes at the top of this webpage. The UCC online application portal usually opens around mid October.
2. Gather documents
Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
- Original qualification documents listed on your application, including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
- Any supplementary items requested for your course, if required.
3. Apply online
Apply online by clicking the red 'Apply Now' button below. Note most of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Additional Requirements
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 questions:
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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.
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In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
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Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
- Please provide evidence of at least 12 months post registration experience.
- All applicants must upload the following 2 documents here: 1. Written evidence that they have identified a general practitioner (GP) practice where they can undertake clinical placement. Please upload a letter of support from the GP employer(s) in this practice. 2. Written evidence that they have identified a Practice Nurse or a general practitioner (GP) who is willing to be a preceptor within their identified general practice. Please upload a letter here from this Practice Nurse or general practitioner (GP) indicating their willingness to be a preceptor.
Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted on this course.
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