University of Limerick - Nursing (Dementia Care)

Course Overview/Contact:

Application Deadline:   to be confirmed

The overall aim of the Master of Sciencein Nursing(Dementia Care) programme is to provide registered nurses with the opportunity to develop and enhance specialist level knowledge and skills in the area of person centred dementia care.  A key goal of this programme is to prepare practitioners for the challenges of leading and delivering specialist/ advanced level person centred dementia practice across a variety of settings. To achieve this goal, programme content focusses on providing practitioners with the theoretical underpinnings, clinical exposure and competence for the development of knowledge and skills in areas of assessment and therapeutic interventions for persons with dementia.

• On completion of the programme students will be able to:
• Critically examine evidence to inform best practice in monitoring co-ordinating and managing care for people with dementia
• Critically explore professional standards relevant to dementia care
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of therapeutic interventions used in the management and care of persons with dementia
• Apply critical thinking skills and ethical decision making required for advancing practice
• Critically examine the value of multidisciplinary collaboration in the provision of quality evidenced bases outcomes of care for persons with dementia
• Critically review current innovations and developments in leading and managing change in dementia care practice
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the research process
• Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning while fostering self- development and self -evaluation
• Demonstrate responsibility for personal and professional development in advocating person centred care for people with dementia
• Apply critical thinking and reflective skills in promoting and advancing person centred dementia care
• Appreciate the contribution of research in informing and advancing dementia care in practice settings

Contact Details

Dr. Owen Doody, Course Director, Postgraduate Programmes
Department of Nursing and Midwifery
Email: owen.doody@ul.ie
Telephone: 00 353 61 213367, Mobile: 00 353 86 8379781
Website: www.nm.ul.ie

Graduate Profile:

Successful completion of year one of the master’s programme (Graduate Diploma award) will provide students with the academic qualifications required to be considered eligible for clinical nurse specialist posts. The MSc award on successful completion of year 2 will provide students with the academic qualifications required to be considered eligible for advanced practice posts.

Programme Content:

Year 1 (Graduate Diploma)	Year 2 (Masters)
Autumn Health Research Methods - Methodology ( 12 Credits) Principles Underpinning Dementia Care (9 Credits) Clinical Practicum 1 (9 Credits)	Autumn Dissertation 1 ( 9 Credits)
Spring Promoting Quality and Safety in Healthcare (12 Credits) Therapeutic Interventions in Dementia Care (9 Credits) Clinical Practicum 2 (9 Credits)	Spring Dissertation 2 (21 Credits)

The programme is listed as full time but is taken on a part time basis. The 90 credit consists of six modules in Year One (60 credits) and one small scale research project/ dissertation in Year 2 (30 credits).  In year one students undertake two theory modules in each semester , ( one specialist module in dementia care and one core module)as well as one clinical practicum module in semesters one and two, a total of six modules in year one of the programme. As part of the clinical practicum modules students are required to fulfil 1100 hours clinical practice time over the two semesters in year one, in addition to successfully completing specialist dementia care competences. Students are required to attend in University for a total of 13 days in year one, one introductory day and 6 days lectures in the Autumn and Spring semesters. In year two students will be required to complete a small scale research project ora systematic review, or a practice based enquiry within a supported framework. Students will be required to attend for one introductory day in the Autumn semester of year 2. They will be assigned an academic supervisor and will meet as required with their supervisor during completion of year 2.

Content of modules can be found by using the search option on the book of modules.

Entry Requirements:

• A registered nurse on the current register of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
• Be engaged in practice as a registered nurse for at least one year
• Students would normally possess a primary degree( Minimum 2.2) or show evidence of  recognized prior learning  (RPL) as outlined in  the ( RPL) policy of the University and Department of Nursing and Midwifery
• Students are required to be working in a practice setting  with persons with dementia for the duration of the programme
• Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet criteria identified in the English Language qualifications set by the University of Limerick

The MSc in Nursing (Dementia Care) will be offered as a full time programme but taken on a   part time basis over two years with the option of an exit award on completion of year 1 (Graduate Diploma). Students can also opt to progress to year two for the MSc award having attained a minimum QCA of 2.00 at the end of year one.

• Standard Degree Applicants/ Include with your application
• Full degree transcript and certificates/awards (including English translation if applicable)
• English language qualifications   ( Taken in the last 2 years,if English is not your first language)
• Copy of current Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland current registration certificate
• A copy of  birth certificate (Long Document)
• An application fee of €35 (electronically) or €40 Bankdraft/Cheque.

Recognized Prior Learning Applicants/ who do not meet standard entry requirements / Include with your application

• A  Copy of birth certificate( Long Document)
• Copy of current Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland registration certificate
• 1000 word typed Recognized Prior Learning  Statement
• Copies of all certificates or diploma’s as part of prior learning to date
• An application fee of €35 (electronically) or €40 Bankdraft/Cheque.