First Student Graduates from Doctor of Nursing Programme

10 Mar 2014

Friday 28^th February 2014; Patrick Cotter, an Advanced  Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Nursing at Cork University Hospital is the first graduate of the Doctorate of Nursing Programme at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork.

The Doctorate in Nursing is a professional doctorate which prepares nurses to function as advanced leaders in clinical, academic and service settings. The programme curriculum is divided into two sections. Students take intensive theory modules in the first half of the programme developing their specialist discipline expertise and in the second half of the programme students concentrate on preparing their doctoral thesis.  The theory modules relate to advanced nursing theory, health systems policy and regulations, leadership and collaboration, health care informatics and advanced research methods.

Professor Josephine Hegarty, Programme Coordinator says “the Doctorate of Nursing programme unlocks new opportunities and educates a new generation of nurses with strategically important skills.  The graduates from this programme have a unique skill-set to help them master the ever-evolving health care system”.

Students articulate the advantages of this doctoral programme as the applicability of the modules to their professional nursing roles, the structured learning environment and the support of fellow students & the lecturing team.

Patrick believes that in completing the Doctor of Nursing Degree programme he is equipped “to function at an advanced level not only within the profession or at its interface with other healthcare stakeholders but within the healthcare community itself”.