GradDip Children’s Cardiac Care

Program Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Children's Cardiac Care provides specialized training for nurses in children's cardiac nursing. Through a blended learning approach, participants gain advanced knowledge and skills in areas such as critical care, research methods, and leadership. The program prepares nurses for roles as specialists in children's cardiac care, including Nurse Specialists and Advanced Nurse Practitioners.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This Graduate Diploma in Children’s Cardiac Nursing is designed for Registered Nurses seeking specialization in Children’s Cardiac Nursing. It aims to build upon existing knowledge and skills, preparing nurses to practice at a specialist level.

Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Advance nursing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values in children's cardiology, including understanding the perspectives of children, parents/guardians, and carers.
• Synthesize and integrate knowledge from various interprofessional disciplines to address complex health issues in Children's Cardiac Nursing.
• Develop advanced knowledge of motivational theory, conflict management, and performance improvement systems, enabling leadership and management roles.
• Foster systematic and comprehensive assessment processes based on theory, evidence, research, and interprofessional perspectives for advanced reasoning and decision-making.
• Advocate for and communicate the needs of infants, children, young people, their parents/guardians, and fellow nurses within the context of Children's Cardiac Nursing and evidence-based practice.
• Cultivate team-building skills and the ability to lead diverse teams to improve outcomes through understanding organizational change and successful implementation.
• Promote personal and professional growth in a children's nursing role through lifelong learning and continuous professional development.
• Contribute to children's nursing knowledge through systematic inquiry, knowledge development, translation, and scholarship.

Outline:

Program Structure:

• 2-year part-time program
• Commences in September
• Delivered through a blended learning approach (online and in-person)

Course Schedule:

• Year 1:
• Online learning one day per week for a short period
• Two core modules:
• NMHS43270 Research Methods Applied to Healthcare (Autumn Trimester)
• NMHS43140 Developing Leadership Competency (Spring Trimester)
• Year 2:
• Learning experiences undertaken in planned blocks of study at the hospital site
• Four specialist modules:
• NMHS44180 Fundamental Concepts of Children's Cardiac Nursing
• NMHS43720 Advanced Children's Critical Care
• NMHS44170 Specialist Considerations in Children's Cardiac Nursing
• NMHS42460 Clinical Practicum: Paediatric Critical Care Nursing

Module Descriptions:

• NMHS43270 Research Methods Applied to Healthcare: This module focuses on research methodologies relevant to healthcare, equipping students with the skills to conduct and interpret research.
• NMHS43140 Developing Leadership Competency: This module explores leadership theories and practices, developing students' leadership skills and abilities to manage teams effectively.
• NMHS43720 Advanced Children's Critical Care: This module delves into advanced concepts and practices in critical care for children, equipping students with specialized knowledge and skills.
• NMHS44170 Specialist Considerations in Children's Cardiac Nursing: This module focuses on specific considerations and challenges in children's cardiac nursing, providing students with in-depth knowledge and expertise.
• NMHS42460 Clinical Practicum: Paediatric Critical Care Nursing: This module provides practical experience in paediatric critical care nursing, allowing students to apply their theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting.

Assessment:

• Varied assessment methods:
• Assignments
• Case presentations
• Practical examinations
• Online discussion boards
• Student debates

Teaching:

• Teaching methods:
• Large and small group lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Clinical teaching by specialists in the clinical area
• Online learning platform:
• UCD Virtual Learning platform 'Brightspace' supports online teaching and learning, facilitating synchronous and asynchronous online content delivery.
• Clinical placements:
• Provide students with opportunities to learn from experts in other hospitals and/or within their own hospitals.
• Students attend multi-disciplinary team meetings and engage in supervised practice.

Careers:

• The program prepares nurses to assume the role of a nurse specialist in children's cardiac care.
• Potential career paths include:
• Children's Cardiac Nurse Specialist
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Children's Cardiac Care
• Leadership and management roles in children's cardiac services

Other:

• The program emphasizes continuous progression of clinical ability and clinical effectiveness through continuous assessment, clinical examinations, and case presentations.
• There is a strong emphasis on the delivery of specialist modules on the care of the child with a cardiac condition.
• The program offers a flexible pathway with recognition of prior learning where applicable.
• The program utilizes IT extensively to support the teaching environment.

Note:

The program is subject to change.

| Year | EU | nonEU | |---|---|---| | Year 1 | €5240 | €9540 | | Year 2 | €5060 | €9540 |