Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Orthopaedics)—
full-time and part-time

College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences

Key facts

Entry requirements

All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:



  1. Be a registered nurse on the General Nurse division of the Register maintained by an Bord Altranais.

  2. Have a minimum of one year post registration experience (exclusive of post registration courses).

  3. Be currently working in the required specialist area, i.e., Orthopaedics, and have as a minimum six months clinical experience in this specialist area.

  4. Satisfy the selection panel that they have the ability to complete the programme. Applicants who do not hold an honours degree or higher diploma (Level 8) may apply but must clearly demonstrate their capacity to complete a programme at this level.


In addition to the other requirements outlined above, these applicants are required to submit a 1,000 word literature based essay. To be considered for admission, this essay must be at the level expected of an honours degree candidate (Level 8).

Duration: 1 year, full-time 2 years, part-time

Next start date: September 2012

ECTS weighting: 90

Average intake: 6 (minimum)

Closing date: Please see the offer round dates for further information.

Mode of study: Blended learning & workshops

Course overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Orthopaedics) is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue a specialism in Orthopaedic Nursing. This programme is offered full-time over one calendar year and part-time over two calendar years. Taught components of the programme are delivered in a blended learning format. Blended learning is an innovative teaching strategy which involves a combination of face-to-face and on-line learning. This means that most learning/teaching will be delivered on-line through Blackboard, an interactive learning system which connects directly to the University from your own home computer. Students are required to attend face to face workshops for a total of 12 days across the programme. The programme is comprised of seven theory/practice modules. In all modules there is an emphasis on exploring the relevance of module content to practice, similarly, practice placements allow students to explore "new" knowledge in practice, enabling them an opportunity to integrate theory and practice. Students are required to undertake their clinical practice in an approved clinical practice setting within Ireland normally within the students' own work setting.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours over the Duration of the programme.  

Course outline

Module 
Clinical Governance in Nursing (core)
Evidence-Based Practice (core)
Principles of Orthopaedic Nursing
Orthopaedic Trauma
Orthopaedic Specialities and
Rehabilitation
Option Module*
Service Improvement Module
Practice Assessment 1
Practice Assessment 2
Practice Assessment 3

*Students may select one of the following option modules:

Collaboration and Interagency Working
Advanced Wound Care Management 
Empowering Clients to Self Manage Chronic Disease 
The Context of Managing Health Care

Please note that the programme and option modules offered are subject to sufficient student numbers.  

Applications and selections

Applications are made online via The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). Relevant PAC application code(s) above.

Who teaches this course?

Sinéad Hahessy, RGN, B.A., M.A.(Soc.Sc). Pg Cert in Teaching and Learning
Fiona Heaney, RGN, MSc Nurse Education, Clinical Facilitator, Clinical Nurse Specialist Orthopaedics 
Adeline Cooney, M. Med.Sc., BNS, RGN, RNT, PhD

Find out more

PAC code

GYM20, full-time GYM42, part-time

Fees for this course

EU (Total): €6,000
 - Student levy: €224
Non-EU (Total): €13,750

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