PgCert in Critical Care Nursing (Beaumont Hospital)
€3,565
Enhance your knowledge of professional, clinical and managerial issues related to the care of the surgical patient in either perioperative or pre/postoperative settings.
Postgraduate Certificate
6 months
Online - Part-time
30 ECTS
January 2026
About
Advance your theoretical knowledge and develop a critical and questioning approach as you explore professional and clinical issues relevant to the care of the critically ill patient. Enhance your clinical practice by developing an in-depth knowledge of a comprehensive, holistic assessment of the critically ill patient.
You will also spend time evaluating approaches to planning and implementing evidence-based nursing care. Explore the role of the nurse within the multidisciplinary Critical Care Team. This RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery programme is delivered part-time via an active blended learning approach including self-directed learning and live online classes approximately once every week.
Further support is provided through the module lead, programme director and regular online drop-in sessions.
The award title for this course is Postgraduate Certificate Nursing (Critical Care).
This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.
Advance clinical judgement in critical care
Enhance your critical care practice
Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to advance practice and effect policy change
Suitable for
This programme is suitable for nurses working in a critical care setting in Beaumont Hospital who wish to advance their knowledge in this area.
What you will learn
Faculty highlight
Biography
Prof. Suzanne McDonough
Prof. McDonough is the Head of RCSI School of Physiotherapy. With extensive experience as Professor of Health and Rehabilitation at Ulster University, she has played a pivotal role in developing research capacity among physiotherapists and allied health professionals.
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Dr Grace O’Malley
Dr O'Malley leads the Obesity Research and Care Group at RCSI, holding joint positions in the School of Physiotherapy and the Child and Adolescent Weight Management Service at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street. Her research focuses on clinical, eHealth, and public health aspects of paediatric obesity.
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Register your interest
Would you like to learn more about this programme? Contact us at nursing@rcsi.ie.
Course information
This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of a comprehensive range of knowledge in the specialist area.
- Articulate a critical awareness of the latest evidence-based knowledge in the specialist area.
- Demonstrate a range of research and specialist knowledge and skills to the specialist area of clinical practice.
- Select from a broad range of specialist skills and knowledge in the specialist area.
- Act in a comprehensive and often unpredictable variety of professional and ill-defined contexts in the specialist area.
- Take significant responsibility for the work of individuals and groups and lead and initiate activity in the specialist area.
- Critically self-evaluate professional and personal learning needs and those of others within your specialist area of practice and link to related continuing professional development requirements.
- Present a reflective and questioning approach to specialist practice delivery and exhibit professional application of your knowledge in an accountable, responsible and evidence-based manner.
Upon the successful completion of this programme, students can progress to a postgraduate diploma.
The programme will begin in September each year.
This programme is assessed through a range of assessment modalities.
All programmes offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery are accredited by RCSI, the National University of Ireland and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Recognition by bodies in other jurisdictions must be determined by individual applicants.
Admissions
To be eligible for the programme you must:
1. Hold an NFQ Level 8 qualification. However, applicants who do not hold a Level 8 qualification may still be eligible to join the programme through our supported-entry pathway programme. This is subject to an assessment of prior learning and experience.
2. Have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
3. Be working in the specialty area in Beaumont Hospital or other site which has been audit approved for the duration of the programme.
If you do not meet the minimum academic requirements above, you may still be eligible to apply through recognition of prior learning (RPL). RPL is the assessment of knowledge, skills and competence previously acquired.
Learning occurs in many contexts which include work, involvement in social and community activities, or learning through life experience generally. RPL does not give credit for experience as such; rather it considers the learning that was acquired as a result of the experience.
RPL may be used to gain:
- Admission to courses/programmes where a person may not have obtained the standard entry requirements.
- Exemptions from course modules which duplicate the learning outcomes an individual has already demonstrably acquired through prior learning.
English language requirements for RCSI Postgraduate programmes are published here.
If you have completed undergraduate/postgraduate full-time studies in the medium of the English language (three or more years cumulatively) or are registered with the NMBI, you are exempt from these requirements.
The fees for this programme are €3,565.
Please note:
- Fees include the €45 NUI fee.
- There is an additional application fee of €50 which is non-refundable.
- Fees are subject to review annually.
- Fees can be paid by bank transfer. Full details on fee payment will be emailed to you before the commencement of your programme.
- You can pay your fees in two equal instalments – one payment of 50% is due before you commence the programme, and the remaining payment is due at the midway point of the programme.
- If you meet the criteria for a non-EU student, please contact us for more information on fee payments at tel: +353 1 402 2445 or email: nursing@rcsi.ie.
Please view our Postgraduate fees policy for more information.
Sponsored students
If your study is sponsored by your employer, you will be required to upload written confirmation of your sponsorship when accepting your programme offer. You will be unable to accept your offer until confirmation of sponsorship is received or a payment is made.
How to apply
Applications for this programme are currently closed.
For guidance or further information, please contact nursing@rcsi.com.