BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing

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.