Skip to main content
Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

Thrive in a rewarding career in caring
DK870
380 Points

CAO Code

DK870

Start Date

September 2024

Course Capacity

46

Duration

4 Years

Work Placement

Yes

NFQ Level

8

Discipline Area

Nursing & Midwifery

Course Type

Undergraduate

Study Mode

Full-Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Overview

Students will learn the theory and evidence-based principles of nursing to help people prevent and overcome illness and enable them to take ownership of their own health and well-being. Students will learn the practice of nursing by working with registered nurses in clinical areas who act as mentors, assisting students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations.

Students will receive both theoretical and practical classes in Clinical Skills Labs, in preparation for their clinical placements. General nursing placements account for 50% of this course and take place in many clinical settings both in acute hospital and community settings.

This 4-year full-time degree course is offered in partnership with the Health Service Executive, RCSI Hospital Group and other health service providers (HSPs) from both the public and private healthcare sectors. 

What makes this course different

DkIT

Professional Accreditation

Graduates will be eligible for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

Placements Each Year

Clinical practice placements in each year and a 36-week placement in Year 4.

Understanding the Industry

General nursing is a vital and multifaceted branch of healthcare focused on providing comprehensive nursing care, support, and advocacy to patients across all age groups and health conditions. General nurses are the backbone of healthcare systems, playing a critical role in promoting health, preventing illness, and assisting in the recovery of patients.

Career Opportunities

Registered General Nurses are currently in high demand at home and abroad. Graduates can apply for positions at Staff Nurse grade.

Future Careers:

  • Registered Nurse
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Advanced Nurse Practitioner
  • Consultant Nurse
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Nurse Education

In these areas:

  • Public hospitals in all clinical settings
  • GP surgeries and clinics
  • Private hospitals

Course Delivery and Modules

Teaching includes modules on Nursing Studies, Biological Sciences, Psychological and Social Sciences, Research, Law and Ethics, Leadership and Management Skills. 

Classroom-based learning is facilitated through lecture, tutorial, small group work, and seminars.

Clinical Skills are taught in simulated clinical environments through demonstration, practice, scenario-based examples and objective structured clinical examinations.

Work-based learning takes place on clinical placements under the supervision of registered general nurses and by reflection on experience.

  • Year 1

    • Safe Healthcare Practice
    • Natural Sciences for General Nursing
    • Learning to Learn
    • Foundations of General Nursing Practice
    • Introduction to the Social Sciences of Health and Illness
    • Clinical Placement 1
    • Older Person and Community Health
    • Specialist Nursing and Maternity Care
    • Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Year 2

    • Cardiovascular and Respiratory Nursing
    • Psychosocial Aspects of Health and Disease
    • Musculoskeletal Nursing
    • Mental Health in General Nursing
    • Applied Physiology and Introduction to Pharmacology
    • Clinical Placement 2
    • Gastrointestinal Nursing
    • The Research Process
    • Oncology and Haematological Nursing
  • Year 3

    • Neurological, Endocrine, ENT & Ophthalmology Nursing
    • Chronic Illness and Older Adults
    • Pharmacology for General Nursing Practice
    • Quality, Risk and Safety in Healthcare
    • Clinical Placement 3
    • Renal and Reproductive Nursing
    • Palliative Care and End of Life Care
    • Ethical and Legal Practice General Nursing
    • Evaluating Research
  • Year 4

    • Research Proposal
    • Assessment and Management of the Acutely Ill Adult
    • Clinical Leadership and Management for Professional Nursing Practice
    • Contemporary Nursing Practice
    • Clinical Placement 4
    • Internship General Nursing (36 Weeks)

Work Placement

Clinical practice placements occur in each year of the programme, each placement building up the clinical competence of the student to become a Registered General Nurse. These are facilitated throughout the HSE Louth-Meath, Cavan-Monaghan area. 

In 4th year, students are interns for 36 weeks and are employed and paid by the HSE as part of the internship practice placement.

Professional Accreditations

Graduates will be eligible for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

  • DKIT

Education Progression

Graduates are also qualified to apply for a range of postgraduate programmes in nursing such as the Postgraduate Cert/Diploma/ MSc in Specialist/Advanced Nursing.

Postgraduate 2 Years (Part-time) Blended

MSc in Professional Nursing

View Course Details

Fees and Funding

Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees

Entry Requirements

In addition to the standard entry requirements below, a Laboratory Science subject at Grade O6 or H7 is also required. Applicants from NI/UK require a GCSE pass in a Laboratory Science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) or GCSE Grade CC in Double Award Science.


Please Note: Offers subject to successful Garda Clearance and Health Status Clearance from the Health Service Executive (North East) Occupational Health Unit. Students on the course are also subject to fitness-to-practice regulations.

Recent CAO Points

2023 CAO Round 1 Points

380

How To Apply

Apply on CAO

All standard entry first-year applicants must apply for entry through the CAO. See Important application dates for CAO and information for specific applicant types below:

CAO Code: DK870
Apply on CAO

Ask us a Question

If you have a question about the BSc (Hons) in General Nursing please ask it below and we will get back to you.


Briege King

Programme Director

Email: briege.king@dkit.ie

Disclaimer: All module titles are subject to change and for indicative purposes only. All courses are delivered subject to demand and timetables are subject to change. Elective Module options will only run subject to student numbers. The relevant Department will determine the viability of each elective module option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose that option. Students will be offered alternative elective modules on their programme should their preferred elective option not be proceeding. Award Options for Common Entry Programmes: The relevant Department will determine the viability of each award option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose either option. If the numbers for one of the Award options exceed available places, students for this option will be selected based on Academic Merit (highest grades).