Course details
Continuing professional development is a key professional requirement for nurses and postgraduate academic qualifications have been linked to positive patient outcomes through improved communication, expanded knowledge and stronger critical thinking skills. Though many postgraduate learning opportunities exist for nurses across a large number of clinical areas, limited opportunities exist for those working in the operating department (outside of larger Band 1 hospitals) and none exist which prepare the nurse to care for the pre and post-operative surgical patient in a ward setting at an enhanced level.
This one-year part-time fully-accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient) aims to address this gap. This exciting and clinically relevant programme offers participants the opportunity to consolidate and expand their knowledge in the care of the surgical patient, thus enhancing care, whilst at the same time allowing for flexibility within the workforce. The programme is designed in such a way as to allow students to choose the path most-suited to their clinical practice: Pre and Postoperative Care; or Care in the Perioperative setting. The programme complements RCSI’s focus on surgical practice and supports the provision of efficient, safe and advanced high-quality healthcare which enables people to live long and healthy lives.
The programme provides a foundation for those wishing to progress further to the MSc in Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient) where understanding and application for the research process will be enhanced. Students will be guided in critically evaluating research using iterative and structured approaches and original research designs, thereby generating evidence for practice that is based on the most-relevant published data and original research.
Course codes
Strand A (Care in the Perioperative setting): C32801Peri
Strand B (Pre and Postoperative Care): C32801PrePost