University of Limerick - Nursing (Rehabilitation of the Older Person)

Course Overview/Contact:

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 one (Graduate Diploma) will provide students with the academic qualifications necessary to be considered for Clinical Nurse Specialist posts. Successful completion of year 2 (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:

• Critically examine evidence that informs best practice in the care of the older person in the context of a rehabilitative model of care.
• Critically explore the philosophy of rehabilitative nursing of the older person.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of models of nursing assessment and therapeutic interventions currently used in care of older persons.
• Apply critical thinking skills and ethical decision making required for advancing practice.
• Critically examine the value of multidisciplinary collaboration in the provision of quality evidence based care.
• Critically review current innovations and developments in leading and managing change in practice.
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the research process.
• Demonstrate proficiency in written, verbal, and digital communication skills, at individual and collaborative levels.
• Demonstrate commitment to life-long learning while fostering self-development and self-evaluation.
• Demonstrate responsibility for personal and professional development in advancing care in rehabilitation nursing of the older person.
• Apply critical thinking and reflective skills in promoting and advancing practice in rehabilitation nursing of the older person.
• Appreciate the contribution of research in informing and advancing practice in rehabilitation nursing of the older person.

Contact:

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 Masters in Nursing (Rehabilitation of the Older Person) programme is to provide registered nurses with the opportunity to develop and enhance nursing knowledge and skills in this area of practice. The programme is designed to facilitate learning in assessment and therapeutic nursing interventions for the older person within the context of a rehabilitation nursing philosophy. It is acknowledged that rehabilitation nursing of the older person is provided in a wide variety of settings. Therefore, this programme emphasises and promotes a philosophy of rehabilitation nursing of the older person that may be applied in a range of different environments. The programme facilitates the development of knowledge through critical inquiry, skills, attributes and competencies in preparation for developing roles within nursing. Such roles may include specialist and advanced practice roles whereby nurses collaborate with other members of the multidisciplinary team and recognise their responsibility in contributing to and leading the nursing profession through clinical excellence. Successful completion of the Masters in Nursing will provide students with the academic qualifications required to be considered eligible for clinical nurse specialist / 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 (Rehabilitation of the Older Person) 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 students undertake two theory modules in each semester , ( one specialist module in rehabilitation nursing of the older person  older person 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 rehabilitation nursing of the older person 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 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 supervisor during completion of year 2.

Year 1	Year 2
Autumn Health Research Methods/Methodology (12 credits) Assessment in Rehabilitation of the Older Person (9 credits) Clinical Practicum (9 credits)	Autumn   Dissertation 1 ( 9 Credits)
Spring Promoting Quality and Safety in Healthcare (12 credits) Therapeutic Interventions in Rehabilitation Nursing of the Oder Person (9 credits) Clinical Practicum (9 credits)	Spring  Dissertation 2 ( 21 credits)

 

 

Programme Delivery

Blended learning with 13 contact days in UL in year 1
Supervised research project in year 2

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 relevant 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 (Rehabilitation of the Older Person) 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 applicationFull 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 Bank draft/cheque.

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

• Copy of birth certificate( Long Document)
• Copy of current nursing and midwifery board of Ireland registration
• 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 Bank draft/cheque.