Nursing (Children's and General integrated)
DC218

Nursing (Children's and General integrated)

Course Details

CAO Code:
DC218
Course Type:
Undergraduate
NFQ Level:
8 - Please see www.qqi.ie for further information
Placement:
Yes
Delivery Mode:
Full-time
Minimum Points
487
Duration
4.5 Years
Phone:
+353 (0) 1
700 5947

If helping both adults and children, and making a difference to their lives while they are ill, appeals to you, this programme is a good choice for you.

Overview

Overview Icon

Nurses are problem-solvers with a natural tendency to care about how people feel and usually have qualities such as resilience, empathy, reliability, integrity and good communication skills are leading qualities in the nursing field. 

Nurses play a critical role in society, helping people to achieve, maintain or regain the best possible health while also offering patients support and dignity. During this course, you’ll develop deep nursing knowledge, along with skills such as critical thinking, reflective practice, research principles and problem-based learning. You’ll learn how to ensure the care you deliver as a compassionate and committed nurse is current and evidence-based. 

Extensive practical experience
DCU offers this four-and-a-half-year course in partnership with health service providers from both the public and private healthcare sectors. You’ll complete several placements in each year of the programme, across adult and children’s hospitals as well as community facilities, along with a 36-week internship in years four and five. Also, the Erasmus+ exchange programme is open for application to all 2nd year nursing students and takes place in semester 1 of 3rd year. Find out more about this placement exchange on our International Placement webpage.

Once you graduate, you can apply to register as both a Children’s and a General nurse to the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). You’ll be qualified to work as a nurse in hospitals, the community, schools, and nursing homes in Ireland or overseas, with work opportunities in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US in particular. You can also choose to go on to postgraduate study.

DCU People

Profile picture of Niamh O'Toole
Niamh O’Toole

I was inspired to pursue a career in nursing after spending time in hospital while I was recovering from pneumonia.


Read more about Niamh O’Toole

Careers & Further Options

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Careers

Upon graduation, your internationally recognised degree will qualify you to work as a Nurse both at home and abroad.

You’ll also be eligible for professional registration with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

You’ll find work opportunities in the community, schools, general practice, occupational health, and traditional hospitals and care facilities. Career pathways also exist in clinical practice, management, education and research.

  • Education
  • General Nurse
  • Research
Children's Nurse
General Nurse

DCU graduates are highly sought after by employers. Our Graduates work in environments ranging from large multinationals to SMEs, family businesses and start-ups across every sector.

DCU Careers Service has a number of learning and development initiatives in place for our students, giving them the skills they need for a successful career path.

Go to our Careers site to find out more about career planning, our mentorship programme, skills development and online resources for students when working on CVs and making applications.

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements Icon

In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply

Minimum of O6 or H7 in Mathematics and minimum of O6 or H7 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply

GCE A Level D or GCE AS Level D or GCSE C Mathematics and GCE A Level D or GCE AS Level D or GCSE C in one of Physics, Chemistry , Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

Please visit our Admissions webpage for details on course requirements or how to apply to DCU.

 

Please visit our QQI FET webpage for details on DCU courses, open days, campus tours or school visits.

 

To apply to DCU, please visit www.cao.ie.

 

No entry path

International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here.

Course Structure

Course Structure Icon

Year 1 (All Nursing Disciplines)

  • Personal and Professional Development 
  • Core Nursing Skills 
  • Psychology 
  • Sociology of Health and Illness 
  • Caring and Communication in Nursing 
  • Anatomy and Physiology 
  • Clinical Practice Placements

Year 1 Stream Specialisms

  • General Nursing 
  • Understanding Intellectual Disability 
  • Mental Health Nursing 
  • Children’s Nursing

Children’s and General Nursing Year 2

  • Principles of Caring for Specific Patients 
  • Caring for the Adult 
  • Children’s Nursing

Year 2 (All Nursing Disciplines)

  • Personal and Professional Development  
  • Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing Practice 
  • Altered Bodily Processes 
  • Research and Nursing Practice  
  • Clinical Practice Placements

Children’s and General Nursing Year 2

  • Principles of Caring for Specific Patients 
  • Caring for the Adult 
  • Children’s Nursing

Year 3 (All Nursing Streams)

  • Ethics in Nursing 
  • Research and Nursing Practice 
  • Clinical Practice Placement

Children’s and General Nursing Year 3

  • Care of the Child with Ongoing Healthcare Needs 
  • General Nursing 
  • Children’s Nursing 
  • Clinical Practice Placement

Year 4 (All Nursing Streams)

  • Nursing Informatics, Management and Leadership 
  • Health Promotion in a Multicultural Context 
  • Research Enquiry 
  • Clinical Practice Placement

Children’s and General Nursing Year 4

  • Caring for a Child with Multisystem Dysfunction 
  • Provision of Care for Children 
  • General Nursing 
  • Ethics in Nursing

Children’s and General Nursing Year 5

  • Clinical Practice Placement

Fees and Funding

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Fees

Student Contribution.
€3,043 per annum
EU Status Fee
€7,149 per annum
Non EU Fee.
€15,000 per annum

How To Apply

How To Apply Icon

Applicants presenting EU/FETAC Level 5 examinations: Apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February or 1st May

Applicants presenting qualifications from outside of the EU can apply directly to DCU by July 1st via our online application portal here.

All candidates are required to apply through CAO. Mature Entry is for those that are 23 years of age or older by 1st January in the year of entry, applicants are also required to sit a test. Candidates are assessed by the Nursing Careers Centre (NCC) of An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI). 

Mature entry route is based on applying for a nursing course via www.cao.ie by 1st February or late application date of 1st May. Applicants can also avail of the change of mind facility on CAO up to 1st July. Although it is possible to make a late application to mature nursing, it is not possible to apply late for other mature entry routes. Other mature entry routes should be applied for by 1st February, to ensure they can engage in any mature assessments.

For details please visit: www.nursingcareers.ie or email: careersinformation@NMBI.ie to request a copy of their nursing and careers booklet.

No entry path

Candidates required to apply through the CAO can apply online at www.cao.ie
 

Life On Campus

Life on Campus
DCU Campus Glasnevin

DCU Glasnevin Campus

FAQs

FAQ Icon

What is the ratio of practical experience to lecture-based learning?
Approve 50:50

When and where do I complete my hospital placements?
Each year you will have the opportunity to practise nursing in the clinical setting in your linked healthcare service. These are called ‘practice placements’. During Years 3 and 4 longer periods are spent on these practice placements. In the last six months of the nursing programme, students do an internship (paid) in the healthcare setting.

Is there an Erasmus as part of the Nursing course?
Yes, Erasmus opportunities are available, further information is available on the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health International Placement webpage.