BSc (Hons) in General Nursing
Course code: WD116
What is General Nursing?
General nurses work as part of a multidisciplinary team in promoting and maintaining health of individuals, families and communities and in systematically caring for those who develop health problems and supporting them to live their lives to their maximum potential.
Reasons to choose this course?
Nursing is an excellent choice for students interested in a healthcare career. Because human beings are complex, careers in nursing are amongst the most challenging; they are also some of the most rewarding. Once graduated, your qualifications will take you anywhere in the world. The General Nursing Programme is delivered in a purpose-built, state of the art learning environment and students undertake clinical practice in many hospitals throughout the south east region. Successfully completing all aspects of this programme allows you to register as a General Nurse with An Bord Altranais.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may apply for positions at staff nurse grade within the Irish healthcare sector. Universally Irish nurses are highly regarded in other countries thus enhancing work opportunities.
- Medical or surgical settings
- Theatre
- Accident and Emergency
- Community settings
- Graduates can also nurse internationally
Clinical Placements
Clinical experience is an important element of the course and is a requirement in order to register as a general nurse. There are 80 weeks of clinical placement throughout the course, including a 36-week paid work experience in year 4. Students will be accommmodated on clinical placements in Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny & South Tipperary.
Follow on Study
Graduates who wish to pursue a career in specialist nursing can apply for Higher Diploma courses/MSc in areas such as gerontology, coronary care, intensive care, peri-operative care, paediatric nursing and accident and emergency nursing. Alternatively graduates may choose to pursue advanced studies in nursing education or nursing management.
- MSc in Nursing (following two years relevant experience)
- Postgraduate Research
Course Outline
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Nursing as Caring 1 Professional Safety and Communication 1 Enquiry & Research Skills 1 Caring for the client with Integument & Digestive Systems Disorders Clinical Placement |
Lifecycle 1 Caring for client with Cardiovascular & Respiratory Disorders Caring for client with urinary & Lymphatic System Disorders |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Nursing as Caring 2 Enquiry and Research Skills 2 Developing Caring in Practice 1 Caring for the client in Midwifery Psychiatric and Intellectual Disability Settings |
Caring for client with Muscular Nervous & Motor System Disorders Lifecycle 2 Professional Dev & Communication Developing Caring in Practice 2 |
| Semester 5 - 8 | |
Other topics of study in semester 5 to 8 are: Professional Development and Management, Applying Caring in Practice, Caring for The Patient/Person with Endocrine and Special | |
Semester 7 & 8 | |
| Clinical Placements - Internship in year 4 is 36 week paid placement within the South East | |
Course Facts
Course Title: BA (Hons) in General Nursing
Course Code: WD116
Course Level: 8
Duration: 4 years
Course Entry
Leaving Certificate:
- Number of subjects at grade D or better: 6
- Number at higher level grade C or better: 2
Required Subjects:
- English/Irish: OD3/HD3
- Mathematics: OD3/HD3
- A laboratory science subject (biology, physics, chemistry, physics & chemistry (joint) or agricultural science).
- Three other subjects (may include Irish or English and a laboratory science subject not included already) or have equivalent second level educational qualifications to the foregoing.
The minimum educational requirements may be accumulated over not more than two sittings of the leaving certificate examination or an equivalent examination.
Additional Applicant Requirements
Fitness to Practice - All applicants will be required to undergo a medical examination, at their own expense, to establish that they are healthy enough to take up the profession of nursing. Full details will be sent to all on-time applicants.
Garda Clearance - All applicants will be required to complete Garda Vetting Application Forms. Please note the following with regard to vetting procedures once registered with WIT:
- Applicants will be provided with relevant forms and documentation for vetting within Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic
- It is mandatory for applicants who have resided abroad for a period greater than 6 months since the age of 12 years to provide WIT with a Police Clearance Certificate from those countries
- Clinical placements can only be arranged for students on receipt of satisfactory clearance
- Further information re Garda/Police clearance is available from the Nurse Allocations Office, WIT at 051 845601
Mature Entry
Use code WD816 for applications to the CAO for mature entry.
For further information:
Course Coordinator: Suzanne Denieffe, MSc, BNS, RGN, RPN, RNT
Email: sdenieffe@wit.ie
Recent Entry Points
| Year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Minimum Points | 395 | 395 | 385 | 410 | 405 |
But don't just take our word...
“Having completed my BSc in General Nursing in 2006 I returned to WIT to undertake an MSc by research in teh field of gerontology. The knowledge & skills gained from the collective experience has laid the foundations for a career in teh dynamic field of older person nursing. Upon completion of my MSc, I intend to work in a care of the older person setting and further my professional development to attain specialist knowledge in an area that I absolutely love."
Laura Cantwell, BSc in General Nursing
