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Nursing: Specialist Nursing (Master of)

Master of Health Sciences (Specialist Nursing)

College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences,
School of Nursing and Midwifery

Course overview

This one-year programme has been developed to meet the requirements of the Nursing community, specialist practice units and An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann policy criteria.

Lifelong learning is a continually supportive process that stimulates and empowers individuals to acquire the knowledge, values, skills and understanding they will require throughout their lifetime and apply them with confidence. The development of the Master of Health Sciences (Specialist Nursing) programme has been guided by the principles of lifelong learning.

Nursing practice is becoming increasingly specialised and complex and practitioners need to be able to respond to this complexity and be flexible and adaptive to change. To ensure that health care is cost effective and appropriate it is also important that clinical actions are based upon research evidence. Practitioners therefore require critical, analytical and reflective skills and also a breadth and depth of knowledge and research understanding to underpin practice. Nurses work in a multidisciplinary health environment and are partners in care with other healthcare professionals. It is important that the educational preparation for nurses enable them to develop the requisite skills and knowledge to function as equal partners, this is particularly important as educational preparation for other health professionals is at degree level and beyond. This programme offers specialist nurses with the opportunity to meet these challenges of health care. The programme involves a taught research methods module to support the completion of a research dissertation.


Special Features


The course is approved by An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann and has a clinical focus, offering opportunities to develop specialist skills. The programme is offered through a blended learning format—a combination of online and face-to-face learning and teaching. Blended learning is an innovative and flexible approach to learning, making it possible to combine working full-time with studying.

Programmes available

Master of Health Science

Entry requirements

All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

1. Have attained Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Level 9) with an aggregated mark of at least 60%;

2. Be a registered nurse on the General, Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse divisions of the active register maintained by An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann;

3. Have practised as a nurse for a minimum of two years post-registration (exclusive of post-registration/educational programmes).

A research proposal is required; guidelines here:
GYM 29 research proposal guidelines‌‌

Areas of interest

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Researcher profiles

Professor Kathleen Murphy, RN, RNT, Dip Nursing, Dip Nursing Education, MSc, BA, PhD

Professor Declan Devane, MSc., Pg Dip (Stats), BSc, Dip HE, RGN, RM, RNT

Dr. Maura Dowling, MSc, BNS, RNT, RGN, RM, Cert. Oncology, PhD

Professor Dympna Casey,  RGN, BA, MA, PhD

Dr Catherine Houghton, RGN, RSCN, RN, HDip, MHSc, PhD.

Dr Marcella Kelly RGN, RM, RPHN, RNT, BSc, MSc, PhD

Dr Andrew Hunter PhD, Dip CBT, MSc, RMN

Dr Mary O'Hara, M.Sc., RGN, RM, RNT,PhD

Dr Georgina Gethin, RGN, Dip, HEDip, PhD

Contact Us

Dr Maura Dowling
T +353 91 493 833
E maura.dowling@nuigalway.ie 
www.nuigalway.ie/nursing.midwifery/

PAC code

GYM29

Current project

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Fees for this course

How to Apply

Find out how to apply

How to Apply

Find out how to apply

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