MSc in Chronic Disease Management

For additional information and programme prospectus visit: www.dcu.ie/snhs/news/2015/may/msc-in-chronic-disease-management

Chronic illness touches every aspect of health and social care and is increasingly perceived as a global threat. 21st century health and social care requires innovative strategies to address this phenomenon.

In response to the changing needs of educational provision in healthcare, the School of Nursing and Human Sciences now offers an MSc in Chronic Disease Management. Designed as an interdisciplinary programme of study, this blended learning programme presents a flexible approach which can be tailored to your specific learning needs. Candidates may exit with a Graduate Certificate in Chronic Disease Management (30 credits), a Graduate Diploma in Chronic Disease Management (60 credits) or a Masters award (90 credits). This programme of study is suitable for many healthcare professions, including, nurses, social-workers, dieticians and occupational therapists. The focus is to enable participants to attain breadth of knowledge, understanding and the appropriate skillset to support individuals to achieve a healthy lifestyle with impairment and optimise their outcomes. This programme will prepare healthcare professionals to tackle the complex need of the individual with chronic illness for contemporary health care provision.

What you will you Gain

• DCU Student Graduate Attributes www.dcu.ie/generation21/graduateattributes.shtml
• Critical knowledge and understanding of evidence-based practice in the field of chronic disease management
• Ability, knowledge, skills and competencies to enhance patient-centred outcomes for those in your care

Aims and Objectives:

The aims and objectives of this programme are to:

• To advance and lead on professional development through strengthening person centered approaches for people living with chronic illness.
• To foster professional role maturity and provide educational opportunities for clinical staff seeking specialist posts.
• To provide an interdisciplinary approach to post graduate MSc education with the provision of different exit points e.g PGDip / PGCert.
• To advance clinically effective practice through critical engagement with a diverse range of staff across a variety of sectors, particularly for those working with people with a co-morbidity and chronic illness.
• To demonstrate a critical engagement with decision-making frameworks and processes in health and social care contexts.

Programme Structure:

The MSc in Chronic Disease Management is a blended learning programme delivered part-time over 2 years. It offers a flexible approach which can be tailored to your specific learning needs. Candidates may exit with a Graduate Certificate in Chronic Disease Management (30 credits), a Graduate Diploma in Chronic Disease Management (60 credits) or a Masters award (90 credits).

The core subjects included on the programme are policy and contemporary issues in chronic disease management, research skills for practice and advanced skills and responses to chronic illness. In addition to the core modules you can also choose from a number of optional pathways, e.g. care of individuals with dementia or diabetes.

Using a flexible and blended mode of delivery, students will engage in both face to face and virtual learning environments. In addition, focused seminars with advanced practitioners and service users, simulation sessions and team activities designed to stimulate innovative thinking and role enhancement will inform the programme of study. Attendance in a clinical or community placement setting is also included in this programme.

Why Study at DCU

• Modern campus close to Dublin city centre
• Fully equipped gym, sports facilities and swimming pool
• Over 100 clubs and societies
• Custom built student centre with award winning library
• World class campus facilities
• Excellent post graduate employment record

Why Study MSc in Chronic Disease Management at DCU?

• Experienced knowledgeable and dynamic lecturers
• Individualised student-centred learning philosophy
• Supportive online learning environment including portfolio for career progression
• State of the art teaching facilities and clinical simulation laboratories
• Self-paced, flexible programme designed to meet the changing needs of healthcare professionals

Career Prospects:

This programme is purposefully designed to advance your career prospects in line with national service plan agendas. The programme supports the notion of inter-professional learning which fosters the spirit of integrated care and acknowledging the value of the patient voice and experience is a core value underpinning the programme. There are defined exit points to accommodate advancing roles for example the profession of nursing at clinical nurse specialist and advanced nurse practitioner.