Program Overview

---

Program Overview

The Specialist Practice - Intensive Care (P.Grad.Cert.) program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, clinical expertise, and technical skills necessary to function as competent, effective, and caring intensive care nursing practitioners. The program has a strong commitment to research-based practice and focuses on the development and integration of theoretical knowledge and clinical experience.

Course Structure

The program is offered on a part-time basis, with a flexible approach that allows students to study between 1-3 years to complete an M.Sc. Specialist Nursing. The course is structured into two years, with the first year starting with a full week of studying in September and continuing one day per week for the remainder of the year. The second year consists of workshops throughout the academic year.

Course Content

In Year One, students take four specialist modules:

• Nursing Care and Management of Critically Ill with Multi System Dysfunction
• Principles of Intensive Care Nursing
• Assessment of the Critically Ill
• Supervised Practice Placement (Intensive care) Students also take two core modules:
• Theory & Practice of Enquiry Methods for Healthcare
• Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance In Year Two, students must complete a dissertation.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is subject to place availability, and the entry criteria include:

• Current registration on the appropriate nursing division of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland Active Register
• Two years post-registration clinical experience since first registration
• Twelve months experience (within the last two years) in the specialty in Ireland at the time of application
• An honours degree in nursing or a related discipline or equivalent professional and academic qualification
• Fulfilling one of the following criteria:
  • An honours degree in nursing or a related discipline or equivalent professional and academic qualification
  • Satisfying the selection committee that they have the academic ability to successfully complete the program

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language, with applicants to this course required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Career Opportunities

The program is designed to enable registered nurses to increase their knowledge, experience, and clinical skills within this chosen specialty, preparing the intensive care nurse to function as a competent, effective, and caring specialist nurse.

Awards

The program is awarded at NFQ Level 9.

Next Intake

The next intake for the program is September 2025.

Course Coordinator

The course coordinator is Dr. Eleanor Hollywood.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 30th June 2025.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section.

Related Courses

Related courses include:

• Gerontological Nursing (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Specialist Practice - Cancer Care & Haematology (P.Grad.Cert.)
• Specialist Practice - Cardiovascular (P.Grad.Cert.)
• Specialist Practice - Emergency Department (P.Grad.Cert.)
• Specialist Practice - Perioperative (P.Grad.Cert.)
• Specialist Practice - Renal (M.Sc./P.Grad.Dip/P.Grad.Cert)
• Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis for Healthcare (P.Grad.Cert.)