The WIT Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing programme enables a nurse to explore and develop their practice with the guidance and support of academic and clinical supervision. The programme provides a structured framework that enables the student to further develop knowledge, skills and competencies in their specialist area of practice within one of the seven areas of nursing, as outlined by the Commission of Nursing (1998):
WD524: High Dependency Nursing: may be suitable for those working in areas such as coronary care, intensive therapy (psychiatry), neonatal intensive care nursing, renal nursing
WD525: Rehabilitation and Habilitation Nursing: may be suitable for those working in areas such as care of the older adult, spinal injuries and palliative care nursing
WD526: Medical Surgical Nursing: may be suitable for those working in areas such as oncology, infection control, stoma care, neurosciences and anesthesia nursing
WD527: Maternal and Child Health Nursing: may be suitable for those working in areas such as maternity, ultrasonography, paediatric cardiology and paediatric oncology nursing
WD528: Community Health Nursing: may be suitable for those working in areas such as health education and health promotion, family development and community mental health services
WD529: Mental Health Nursing: may be suitable for those working in areas such as addiction counselling and behaviour therap
WD530: Intellectual Disability Nursing: may be suitable for those working in areas such as sensory stimulation and challenging behaviour
(Please note that these areas have separate course codes and applicants should ensure they use the correct code when applying)
Special Feature
Graduates from the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing programme can continue on to study for a Master of Science in Nursing.
Dowload our brochure
The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing consists of six modules, equating to 60 credits at Level 9. There are four generic core modules and two modules reflecting a student’s specified clinical field.
Semester I
-
Developing Clinical Practice I (10 credits): The aim of this module is to enable the student to analyse their role and identify essential skills and competencies to be integrated into a specific practice area.
-
Professional Caring in Context (5 credits): The aim of this module is to enable the student to evaluate critically their clinical practice within the context of professional caring
-
Politics of Health Care (5 credits): The aim of this module is to enable the student to critique the politico-legal factors that influence health care provision in their chosen clinical field.
-
Clinical Governance (10 credits): The aim of this module is to enable the student to analyse the issues involved in establishing clinical governance within the organisational context of health care related to their specialist area.
Semester II
-
Research (10 credits): The aim of this module is to provide a critical understanding of research paradigms in order to enable the expansion of knowledge essential to clinical practice.
-
Developing Clinical Practice II (20 credits): The aim of this module is to enable the student to advance their knowledge, understanding and competency in essential skills within a specific practice area.
Delivery
The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing programme will be delivered on a fortnightly basis (Tuesdays). Students will be required to engage in enquiry group work outside of class time.
Entry requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing
-
Registered nurse/midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
-
An honours degree in nursing or hold another recognised qualification which is approved as a suitable alternative to a primary degree OR submit a portfolio for accreditation of prior experiential learning for consideration.
-
A minimum of two years post registration experience. This must include no less than one year’s engagement (whole time equivalent) in the specialist area they choose to study.
-
Currently engaged in clinical practice - a minimum of 20 hours per week.
-
Support from their Director of Nursing and Clinical Nurse Manager.
-
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English, please see WIT’s English Language Requirements for details.
Confirmation of support & nomination of a Clinical Supervisor
A learning approach that is work located means it is important that we ensure students are supported in the practice area. Students will be required to obtain confirmation from their service manager that they will be supported in their chosen clinical field. It is also an expectation of the course that the student will nominate and obtain the consent of a senior clinician to act in the role of Clinical Supervisor.
Criteria for selection of a Clinical Supervisor
-
Be willing to take on the role of clinical supervisor.
-
Have substantive experience at a senior clinical level in the student's chosen specialist clinical field.
-
Have completed a preceptorship course or have an equivalent qualification/recognised experience in teaching and assessing.
-
Have a recognised Level 9 postgraduate qualification in the student's specialist field.
Programme Fees
The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing is a Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Category 2 approved programme. The Irish/EU fee for the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing is €3,450.
Applicants may be eligible to apply for funding from the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit (NMPDU) under the Free Fees Initiative. Further information regarding funding can be obtained from the NMPDU office Tel: 056 7785565 or 051 848691.
How to Apply
Applications for this programme can be submitted online at www.pac.ie
‘I found the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing to be student centred with personal and professional development individualised to each student. It was a challenging journey of discovery, of knowledge acquisition, reflection and analysis of practice. Subsequent changes in practice reflect the patient centred ethos of the programme. The supportive and enthusiastic learning environment in WIT and the ongoing encouragement of both my Academic and Clinical Supervisors were fundamental to achieving the learning outcomes of the programme’.
Nora Flynn, Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Medical Surgical Nursing)
‘I found WIT to be an exceptional learning environment with excellent facilities and friendly and very efficient lecturers. The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing programme has equipped me with necessary education, competency and skills which has enabled me to face my next career challenge. When graduating from WIT, you are not walking away with just another program but also the experiences of an established network of exceptional educators and a network of various healthcare professionals’.
Bindu Murugan, Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Rehabilitation and Habilitation Nursing)
‘I undertook the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, for me this was a really positive experience. I found the content was flexible which allowed me to focus on my specialist area of practice. It facilitated me in developing competence in practical areas of my work that proved very helpful when applying for further positions. The Postgraduate Diploma also gave me a great basis for starting the Master of Science in Nursing’.
Catriona Fitzgerald, Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Science in Nursing Programme (Community Health Nursing)
‘WIT postgraduate programme has equipped me with valuable insight into the research process and the skills necessary to provide evidence based practice essential to contemporary midwifery care. The commencement of the post graduate programme opened a window of opportunity for development that continued to MSc level’.
Mary O’Donnell, Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing/Master of Science in Nursing (Maternal and Child Health Nursing)
Course Leader
-
-
Dr. Suzanne Denieffe
Head of Department of Nursing and Health Care
Tel: 51302473 Email: sdenieffe@wit.ie
Course Leader
Ask a Course Question
If you need to contact the course leader directly, please use the email address listed above.
If you are considering applying for this course and have particular questions about it or the application process, please use the form below to ask your question. To ensure your question is answered more speedily, please try to choose the relevant contact point in the drop down menu. If you are unsure of your contact point, please choose "General".