Acute medicine as a speciality has developed rapidly over the last number of years both nationally and internationally. It is defined as part of general (internal) medicine concerned with the immediate and early specialist management of adult patients who present to or from within hospitals as urgencies or emergencies (RCoP 2007).

Given the acuity of patients who present to Acute Medical Assessment Units (AMAU’s) and Medical Assessment Units (MAU’s) it is recognised that there is a need to develop additional clinical expertise among acute medicine nurses.

In light of this a consortium of six Institutes of Technology (AIT, DkIT, GMIT, LYIT, IT Tralee, and WIT) has been commissioned by the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) H.S.E. to deliver a Level 8 Special Purpose Award in Acute Medicine Nursing for nurses working in AMAUs, MAUs and Emergency Departments. The aim of the programme is to enable acute medicine nurses to develop their knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of acutely ill adults.

This programme supports the commitment made by ONMSD H.S.E. in association with the National Acute Medicine Programme, to provide clinical education for nurses working in Acute Medicine Units, Acute Medical Assessment Units, Medical Assessment Units and Acute Medical