Gerontology Nursing

Postgraduate Diploma in Science

Course Details

Course Code	GA_SGERO_O09
Level	9
Duration	2 years
Credits	60
Method of Delivery	Blended
Campus Locations	Donegal – Letterkenny Mayo St Angelas
Mode of Delivery	Full Time, Part Time

Apply Now How to Apply

Course Overview

This exciting multidisciplinary course emphasises healthy aging in older adults and will benefit those registered as a nurse on the live register of NMBI (or equivalent) or health and social professionals registered with CORU (or equivalent) and caring for older people in their place of work.

Changes are evident in many aspects of older persons’ health service delivery, with clear changing demographics, and the sophistication of technological, medical, and social advancement. Health and social care services must continue to evolve, and nursing, health and social care professionals must continue respond to the needs of individuals, families, and communities in the provision of older persons’ care and services in the acute, community and long-stay settings.

The aim of these programmes are to develop students’ theoretical knowledge, professional values and skills to enable them to plan and implement evidence-based interventions and person-centred approaches for older people across a variety of health and social care contexts.

Recommended Study Hours per week

Students will be required to complete modules worth 5 ECTS (125 hours total student effort) or 10 ECTS (250 hours total student effort) with students being expected to attend hours in class, complete on-line courses and self-guided work.

Examination and Assessment

Examinations and assessment for this award may include, amongst others, a variety of methods including case presentation, projects, professional assignments, case studies, e-tivities, e-discussion forums and essays.

On-Campus Attendance Requirement

Delivery of this course will be hybrid, as content may be delivered both on and off and between campuses, ATU Donegal in Letterkenny, ATU St Angelas in Sligo, and ATU Mayo in Castlebar.
Note: Check programme Examination and Assessment requirements, as they may involve examinations to be taken on campus.

Progression

Students who successfully complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Gerontology Nursing/Practice will be eligible to apply for Masters studies.

Download a prospectus

Postgraduate Prospectus Online, Flexible & Professional Development Prospectus

Entry Requirements

A Level 8 Bachelor (Hons) degree with a minimum grade classification of H2.2 or equivalent (nursing, health science/studies or social science/studies related) or evidence of equivalent academic credits. Applicants who have successfully undertaken and passed at a H2.2 performance standard, a minimum of one 10 ECTS module (Level 9), as a standalone module or equivalent (in the previous four years) will be eligible to apply.

Applicants will hold registration as a nurse on the live register of NMBI or equivalent i.e. the General, or Psychiatric, or Intellectual Disability Register OR be registered on the Register for Allied Health Professionals (CORU) or equivalent,, and/or be employed in a setting where he/she has opportunities to care for older people and have a minimum of 1 year post-graduate experience including six months in this setting.

Fees

Total Fees EU: €7200

Further information on fees

Professional Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for those registered nurses on relevant division (RGN, RNID, RNT, RPHN, RPN).

Careers

This programme will allow graduates to progress in a number of ways. For nurses, having a discipline-specific Master’s will be very beneficial when applying for management positions such as Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM) 1 and 2. It also allows them to progress towards Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) positions, although they would have to have a certain amount of years’ experience to be eligible to apply for these positions.

Other posts such as Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) posts demand a specific programme that is required to become an ANP with specific modules on prescribing and advanced physical assessment. This programme would not qualify a nurse as an ANP, but it is likely to give some exemption from an ANP programme – for example – students would be exempt from taking the research element again.

Allied health and social care professionals who complete this programme would be well positioned to progress to management positions or specialist roles related to their profession with the older person population. Any of the above-mentioned potential employment opportunities could be available in acute, community or residential settings.

Further Information

Who Should Apply?

This award is suitable for those:

– Holding registration as a nurse on the live register of NMBI i.e. the General, or Psychiatric, or Intellectual Disability Register OR be a Health and Social Care Practitioner registered on the Register for Allied Health Professionals (CORU)
-Currently, employed in a setting where he/she has opportunities to care for older people
– Have a minimum of one year post-graduate experience with six months in an older person setting.