This one-year, full-time course includes 12 weeks of lectures, 36 weeks of clinical experience and four weeks’ holidays. All the lectures are delivered in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences at DCU with a three-week block at the beginning of the programme followed by two-days-per-week block release over a five-week period in semester one and a 12-week period in semester two. Students will undertake the 36-weeks clinical practice within the clinical environment in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, attending partner services for specialist placements. The 36 weeks will be divided into two practice modules and will include four weeks holidays at a specified time. For the course’s duration, students will be employees of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1. Upon completion of the course, students will be eligible to register with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) as a Registered Children’s Nurse (RCN).

General Entry Requirements Applicants must be: A registered nurse or eligible to register with Bord Altranais agus Cnaimhseachais na hEireann (Nursingand MIdwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)) as a Registered General Nurse, a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability; AND Hold a Diploma in nursing or judged equivalent. AND Students must have at least six months post-registration clinical nursing experience. Applicants who do not have a Diploma in Nursing (or judged equivalent) will have their prior certified learning assessed through a system of APEL (Approved Prior Experiential Learning) and will be advised to complete the access modules successfully. Each individual's application will be assessed by the APEL Board for evidence of prior certified learning and deficits in prior certified learning and deficits in prior certified learning to Diploma level. A minimum of six Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade 06/H7, to include the subjects English OR Irish AND the subject Mathematics. In addition, applicants must present at least two subjects at grade H5.