BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing
Three great reasons to consider this course
- 100% of DkIT ID Nursing graduates are in employment after 6 months of graduating (HEA Survey 2022)
- 100% of graduates said their ID Nursing degree was very relevant or relevant for their career
- Highest satisfaction rating for the course
Course Summary
Over the duration of this four-year Honours Degree course, students will develop the professional knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to meet the specific needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Students’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills will be developed through the use of traditional and innovative teaching and learning approaches in modern teaching and learning spaces. Students gain their clinical experience in a diversity of placements, supporting people with an intellectual disability across their life span.
Registered Nurses in Intellectual Disability (RNID) work in a diversity of roles and settings across the lifespan with people with an intellectual disability. People with an intellectual disability often present with a wide range of additional and complex physical and mental health needs that can be compounded by communication difficulties.
The RNID works in partnership with the person, their family and allied healthcare professionals, to provide specialist healthcare. The RNID strives to provide person centred care and support that is socially inclusive, that improves or maintains general health and well-being by reducing barriers and supporting the person to live their lives as fully and as independent as possible, while respecting their rights and dignity.
Please note: Offers of places on this course are subject to applicants successful passing Garda Clearance and Health Status Clearance from the Health Service Executive (North East) Occupational Health Unit.
Year 1
Semester 1
- Safe Health Care Practice
- Foundation Studies in Natural Sciences 1
- Learning to Learn
- Introduction to Intellectual Disability Studies
- Learning for Professional Development
- Clinical Placement Stage 1 (Part 1 of 2)
Semester 2
- Foundation Studies in Natural Sciences 2
- Genetic and environmental influences on Intellectual Disability
- Effective communication with people with an intellectual disability
- Fundamental Skills of Intellectual Disability Care 1
- Clinical Placement Stage 1 (Part 2 of 2)
Year 2
Semester 1
- Challenges to Health Throughout the Lifespan (Part 1 of 2)
- Intellectual Disability in Adulthood (Part 1 of 2)
- Fundamental Skills of Intellectual Disability Care 2
- Psychosocial Aspects of Health
- Intellectual Disability across the Child and Adolescent Lifespan
- Clinical Placement Stage 2 (Part 1 of 2)
Semester 2
- Approaches in Supporting Positive Behaviour
- The Research Process
- Challenges to Health Throughout the Lifespan ( Part 2 of 2 )
- Intellectual Disability in Adulthood (Part 2 of 2)
- Clinical Placement Stage 2 (Part 2 of 2)
Year 3
Semester 1
- Fundamental Skills of Intellectual Disability Care 3
- Person Centred Approaches
- Positive Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities
- Quality, Risk and Safety in Healthcare
- Clinical Placement Stage 3 (Part 1 of 2)
Semester 2
- Health promotion and Health surveillance
- Neurobiological Disorders
- Evaluating Research
- Ethical and Legal Practice in Intellectual Disability Nursing
- Clinical Placement Stage 3 (Part 2 of 2)
Year 4
Semester 1
- Older Adult and Palliative Care in Intellectual Disability
- Professional Practice
- Research Proposal
- Clinical Placement Stage 4 (Part 1 of 2)
Semester 2
- Clinical Placement Stage 4 (Part 2 of 2)
* All module titles are subject to change and are for indicative purposes only.
Graduates can apply to practice as a Registered Nurse for Intellectual Disability in Ireland and throughout the UK and EU. Graduates can apply for positions at Staff Nurse grade in the Irish healthcare Sector.
Postgraduate opportunities abound in a variety of clinical practice specialities facilitating progression to the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist/ Advanced Nurse Practitioner. In addition, graduates can also progress to MSc. and PhD level and a career in Nursing Research, Education and Management.
Students are supernumerary to the nursing service needs during three years out of the four and during this time do not receive any financial assistance other than that pertaining to other third-level students. There is a 36-week, rostered clinical placement during which time students are paid a salary from the health services.
Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements:
Six Grades at O6 or H7 in Leaving Certificate
→ INCLUDING At least two H5 Grades
→ AND Mathematics Grade O6 or H7
→ AND Laboratory Science subject Grade O6 or H7
→ AND English Grade O6 or H7 OR Irish Grade O6 or H7
Northern Ireland/UK Entry Requirements:
Applicants must meet the matriculation requirement of 6 different subjects which must include:
→ Mathematics at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better
→ GCSE Pass in a Laboratory Science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) OR GCSE Grade CC in Double Award Science
→ English (or Irish) at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better
→ Two subjects at either:
- ‘A Level’ (Grade A* - C)
- AND/OR Applied A-Level (Grade A* - C)
- AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction).
- AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction)
- OR BTEC National Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM)
- OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM)
- OR BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma (Grade min: MMP)
→ The remaining subjects must be different from that presented above and may be drawn from recognised subjects at:
- GCSE (Grade A* - C)
- AND/OR AS Level’ (Grades A - E)
- AND/OR A-level’ (Grades A* - E)
- AND/OR Applied ‘A-level’ (Grade A* - E)
- AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
- AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
Mature Applicants Entry Requirements:
Minimum of 23 years of age on January 1st of year of application.
An assessment test is carried out by the PAS on behalf of NMBI.
For further information please see our page on applying as a mature student or visit NursingCareers.ie
Please Note:
Offers of places on this course are subject to applicants successfully passing Garda Clearance and Health Status Clearance from the Health Service Executive (North East) Occupational Health Unit.
Furthermore, students on the programme are subject to fitness to practise regulations.
Dr Myles Hackett
Head of Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Early Years
Phone: +353 429370263 Ext 2715Email: myles.hackett@dkit.ie
Joe Treacy
Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Early Years
Phone: +353 429370200Email: Joe.Treacy@dkit.ie
Course ID | DK872 |
CAO Round 1 Entry Points (2023) | 279 Points |
Course Type | Undergraduate |
Study Mode | Full-Time |
Level | 8 |
Duration | 4 Years |
Starting Date | September 2024 |
School | School of Health & Science |
Department | Nursing, Midwifery and Early Years |
Awarding Body | Dundalk Institute of Technology |
Delivery Method | On Campus |
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:
Advanced Entry & Transfer Applications
Advanced Entry is for applicants who have previous educational achievements and/or work experience and want to be considered for direct entry into year 2, 3, or 4 of a course. This includes students looking to transfer to DkIT from another Higher Education provider.