Nursing Studies – Level 5 QQI Award

Duration:
This is a Full-time one-year course, which runs from September to May.  Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.

Overview:
This course is designed to enhance students’ awareness and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the professional nurse. It is also ideal for those who wish to pursue a career in the nursing profession or to progress to other related areas in higher education. Students will study core areas of nursing and are enabled to put theory into practice; using DFEi’s fully upgraded nursing suites and through participation in work experience. This course is delivered by teachers including specialist nurses who bring a real depth of experience to their teaching. The success rates from this course are very high for progression to higher education in both Ireland and the UK.

Entry Requirements:
One of the following:

• Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
• A Full QQI Level 4 Award (or equivalent)
• For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) – appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
• Applicants whose first language is not English require level B2 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.

Course Modules:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Biology
• Care Provision and Practice
• Human Growth and Development
• Nursing Theory and Practice
• Communications
• Word Processing
• Work Experience
• Mathematics (Optional for those learners needing Maths for progression)
• Specialist Module Options (Must choose One – Caring for Children in Hospital or Maternity Care Support or Understanding Mental Health)

Certification:

• Level 5 QQI Award – Nursing Studies (5M4349)
• First Aid Certificate
• Manual and People Handling Certificate
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults – HSeLanD

Special Features:
Jobs Fair:

Due to the large demand for graduates of this course, DFEi hosts an annual job fair to help students secure employment.

This course is supported by FIT, which offers students the opportunity to acquire essential skills to gain employment. Students are given training in job interview techniques and CV preparation.

All DFEi students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and OneDrive.

Work Experience:
Students will be required to undertake a period of work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

This programme requires students to undertake work experience that will bring them into contact with children or vulnerable adults and in which they assume positions of trust. As a result, all students will undertake Garda Vetting prior to commencing their work experience.

Additional Information:
Students wishing to apply for nursing in Ireland must satisfy the minimum requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) www.nursingcareers.ie

DFEi offers Mathematics for students who do not have the relevant grade (Leaving Certificate) for progression to the UK

Assessment:

Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Student Record
• Portfolio/Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examination – Written or Practical
• Project
• Skills Demonstration

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit, or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details

Progression Opportunities:

UK Universities (UCAS Applications): DFEi has established a number of links to oversee progression opportunities to Nursing Degree Programmes in the UK, in particular those offered by Sterling University and Aberdeen University in Scotland and Southampton University and Buckinghamshire New University in England.  DFEi supports students with the UCAS application.

Elsewhere (Ireland): Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed below.

Progression Examples:

BSc General Nursing (DC215)

BSc Psychiatric Nursing (DC216)

BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing (DC217)

BSc Children’s and General (Integrated) (DC218)

BSc Health and Society (DC209)

Dublin City University- www.dcu.ie

BSc General Nursing (DN450)

BSc Mental Health Nursing (DN453)

BSc Midwifery (DN452)

BSc Children’s and General (Integrated) (DN451)

BSc Psychology (DN720)

BSc Social Science (DN700)

University College Dublin – www.ucd.ie

BSc General Nursing (CK710)

BSc Mental Health Nursing (CK720)

BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing (CK730)

BSc Midwifery (CK740)

BSc Public Health Sciences (CK706)

BSc Children’s and General Nursing (Integrated) (CK712)

BSocSc Social Science (CK102)

University College Cork – www.ucc.ie

BSc Social Care (TU996)

BA Early Childhood Education (TU995)

BA Community Development and Youth Work (TU992)

Higher Certificate Pharmacy Technician Studies (TU654)

Technological University Dublin (City) – www.tud.ie

BSc Applied Psychology (DL825)

IADT, Dún Laoghaire – www.iadt.ie

BSc General Nursing (TR091, TR093)

BSc Midwifery (TR913)

BSc Mental Health Nursing (TR095)

BSc Intellectual Disability Nursing (TR097)

Trinity College Dublin – www.tcd.ie

BSocSc Social Science (MH107)

BA Arts (MH101)

BA Psychology (MH106)

Bachelor of Social Science (MH107)

Maynooth University – www.nuimaynooth.ie

Career Paths:
Employers actively seek DFEi graduates for recruitment in public and private sectors, nursing homes, hospitals, agencies, and community care.