Expand+Minimum Entry Requirements
You must be a nurse registered with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann - Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

About You
Applicants must:
• Be a registered nurse or eligible to register with Bord...

Hide-Minimum Entry Requirements
You must be a nurse registered with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann - Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

About You
Applicants must:
• Be a registered nurse or eligible to register with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) as a Registered General Nurse, a Registered Psychiatric Nurse or a Registered Intellectual Disability Nurse, and
• Hold a Diploma in Nursing or judged equivalent. Applicants who do not hold a Diploma in Nursing (or judged equivalent) will have their prior certified learned assessed through a system of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL).
• Possess at least six months post-registration clinical nursing experience.

Expand+Why DCU?
• Lecturers with vast experience in children’s nursing practice, education and research.
• State-of-the-art clinical education facilities.
• Diverse range of clinical placements in partnership with the Children’s University Hospital.
...

Hide-Why DCU?
• Lecturers with vast experience in children’s nursing practice, education and research.
• State-of-the-art clinical education facilities.
• Diverse range of clinical placements in partnership with the Children’s University Hospital.
• Friendly, supportive clinical and educational environment.
• Online environment that enables students to access electronic teaching and learning materials.

Understanding: Children’s Nursing(Higher Diploma)
The Higher Diploma in Children’s Nursing is a one-year, full-time course designed to meet the needs of registered nurses who wish to register as a Children’s Nurse (RCN) or for those who are currently involved in the provision of care to children who do not have a children’s nursing qualification. The aim of the course is to ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to practise as a competent and professional registered children’s nurse. It is delivered at level 8 (NQAI, 2005).

The course is designed to enhance knowledge and skills that have been developed during pre-registration and post-registration nurse education and through experience as a qualified practitioner. Students will be encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and to integrate the theory of children’s nursing with practical experiences in the clinical environment. The Higher Diploma in Children’s Nursing course aims to prepare nurses to be innovators, to think critically and creatively and to have well-developed decision-making and problem-solving skills. It also aims to foster skills for lifelong learning, as this course places an emphasis on the personal and professional development of each student.

This one-year, full-time course will include 12 weeks of lectures, 36 weeks of clinical experience and four weeks’ holidays. All the lectures are delivered in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences at DCU with a three week block at the beginning of the programme followed by two days per week block release over a five week period in semester one and a 12 week period in semester two. Students will undertake the 36 weeks clinical practice within the clinical environment in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, attending partner services for specialist placements. The 36 weeks will be divided into three practice modules and will include four weeks holidays at a specified time. For the duration of the course, students will be employees of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1. Upon completion of the course, students will be eligible to register with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) as a Registered Children’s Nurse (RCN).