University of Limerick - Nursing (Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care)

Course Overview/Contact:

Application Deadline:  to be confirmed

The overall aim of the programme is to provide registered nurses with the opportunity to enhance previously acquired professional education and develop critical inquiry, knowledge and skills, attributes and competencies in preparation for developing roles within nursing. Successful completion of year 1 (Graduate Diploma) will provide students with the academic qualifications necessary to be considered for Clinical Nurse Specialist posts. Successful completion of year two (MSc) will provide students with the academic qualifications to be considered for Advanced Nursing Practice posts. The programme provides opportunities to explore research as evidence for enhancing and changing practice. Key emphasis is placed on the development of critical thinking and reflective skills at specialist and advanced practice levels. The programme will develop professional qualities and a high level of competence in the promotion of excellence and current best practice in the delivery and appraisal of advancing practice.

On completion of the programme the student will:

• Utilise evidence to inform nursing practice in monitoring co-ordinating and managing care.
• Critically review current innovations and developments within nursing.
• Utilise a knowledge base consistent with that of the profession, and which incorporates the standards of professional groups.
• Critically appraise strategies to promote, maintain and restore health in relevant care groups.
• Critically evaluate, generate and conduct research that will incorporate evidence-based practice in nursing.
• Critically evaluate the role of specialist and advanced practice in nursing.
• Collaborate within multidisciplinary teams in the provision of quality outcomes
• Critically appraise international, national and local policy strategies that are relevant to advancing nursing roles.
• Discuss factors that influence practice and theoretical knowledge at specialist/advanced practice levels.
• Demonstrate the critical thinking skills and ethical decision-making required for specialist/advanced practice in nursing care.
• Critically evaluate the use of psychosocial interventions in mental health care.
• Critically discuss the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist/Advanced Nurse Practitioners in the monitoring, coordination and management of individuals experiencing mental health problems.

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:

The overall aim of the Master of Science in Nursing (Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care) is to provide registered nurses with the opportunity to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based psychosocial interventions across a range of mental health settings. It is well established that evidence-based psychosocial interventions support service-user recovery. Educating nurses to facilitate such interventions enhances their therapeutic role in service delivery. This programme is specifically designed to enhance nurses' learning and knowledge of theoretical models underpinning psychosocial interventions. It aims to develop nurses' skills to facilitate assessment and evidence-based psychosocial interventions that support and promote a recovery model of care. The programme also facilitates the development of competencies in preparation for specialist roles. Successful completion of year one of the Masters 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 nursing practice posts.

Programme Content:

The programme is listed as full time but is taken on a part time basis. The 90 credit MSc in Nursing (Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health Care) consists of six modules in Year One (Graduate Diploma Level 60 credits) and one research dissertation in Year 2 (Masters Level 30 credits). In year one of the programme, students undertake a total of six modules. Students undertake two theory modules in each semester, (one specialist module in psychosocial assessment and interventions and one core module) as well as one clinical practicum module in semesters one and two. 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 psychosocial care competencies.  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 or a 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.

Year 1	Year 2
Autumn Health Research – Methods & Methodology (12 Credits) Theories of Psychosocial Assessment & Care (9 Credits) Clinical Practicum 1( 9 Credits)	Autumn  Dissertation 1 (9 Credits)
Spring Promoting Quality & Safety in Health Care (12 Credits) Psychosocial Interventions ( 9 Credits) Clinical Practicum 2 ( 9 Credits)	Spring Dissertation 2 (21 Credits)

 

Entry Requirements:

1. A registered nurse on the current register of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
2. Be engaged in practice as a registered nurse for at least one year
3. 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
4. Students are required to be working in a practice setting  for the duration of the programme
5. 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 (Psychosocial Interventions in Mental Health 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)
• Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland current registration certificate
• A copy of your 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

• Copy of birth certificate( Long Document)/[passport
• 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.