Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Perioperative)

Course details

The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Perioperative) is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue a specialism in Perioperative nursing. This programme is offered full-time over one calendar year and part-time over two calendar years. Taught components of the programme are delivered in a blended learning format and workshop format. Blended learning is an innovative teaching strategy which involves a combination of face-to-face and on-line learning. This means that most learning/teaching will be delivered on-line through Blackboard, an interactive learning system which connects directly to the University from your own home computer.

Students are required to attend face to face workshops for a total of 12 days across the programme. The programme is comprised of seven theory/practice modules. In all modules there is an emphasis on exploring the relevance of module content to practice, similarly, practice placements allow students to explore "new" knowledge in practice, enabling them an opportunity to integrate theory and practice.

Students are required to undertake their clinical practice in an approved clinical practice setting within Ireland normally within the students' own work setting. Where the environment does not provide sufficient opportunities to meet the learning outcomes of the programme addition placements will be required by the student in sites which will provide the experience needed. A minimum of 1000 clinical hours need to be completed in the specialist area while undertaking the programme.

Special Features

The course is approved by An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann and has a clinical focus, offering opportunities to develop specialist skills. The programme is offered through a blended learning format a combination of online and face-to-face learning and teaching. Blended learning is an innovative and flexible approach to learning, making it possible to combine working full-time with studying.

Key facts

Entry requirements

All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

1. Be a registered nurse on the General Register maintained by an Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann.
2. Have a minimum of one year post-registration experience (exclusive of post-registration courses).
3. Be currently working in the required specialist area, i.e., Perioperative, and have as a minimum six months clinical experience in this specialist area.
4. Have an honours degree or equivalent. Applicants who do not hold neither an honours degree nor higher diploma (Level 8) may apply but must clearly demonstrate their capacity to undertake a programme at this level. In addition to the requirements outlined above these applicants are expected to submit a 1,000 word literature based essay on a topic relevant to their specialist area. To be considered for admission, this essay must be judged equivalent to an honours degree (Level 8).

Course outline

Modules

• Clinical Governance: Supporting Safe Practice (core)
• Using Research in Practice (core)
• Perioperative Nursing 1: Physiological Effects of Surgery
• Perioperative Nursing 2: Prevention of Injury
• Perioperative Nursing 3: Prevention of Anaesthetic Complications
• Perioperative Nursing 4: Prevention of Surgical Complications
• Service Improvement Module
• Clinical Assessment 1
• Clinical Assessment 2
• Clinical Assessment 3