Nursing Science (General)

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Nursing Science (General) course is a four-year degree programme provided in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE) West, Blackrock Health Galway Clinic, Bon Secours Hospital Galway. The programme consists of theoretical and clinical modules. The theoretical content aims to provide students with the knowledge necessary to underpin their professional practice. It comprises lectures, seminars, workshops, experiential learning, skills training. Clinical modules are undertaken in the practice setting in the acute hospital setting, community settings and in specialist placements.  Following completion of the programme, students are eligible to apply to register as a General Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. This is an international recognised registration.

The first three years are run within the academic year and include a combination of theory modules and clinical practice modules. Practice modules will require students to be in clinical practice for 32hours per week. Year four comprises clinical/theory instruction in semester one and a 36-week internship in clinical practice which runs from January to September. During this period, the student will be an employee of the HSE Saolta Group and paid a salary.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Course Outline

The course provides an excellent foundation in the theory and practice skills required for contemporary nursing and enables students to become knowledgeable, competent, safe and highly skilled practitioners.

For the graduate of the Bachelor of Nursing Science (General) to be eligible to practice as a Registered Nurse, the student will meet the following programme learning outcomes as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2016):

1. Acquire the knowledge, professional values and discipline specific competences to fulfil the role of the Registered Nurse to deliver safe, high quality, compassionate, ethical, legal and accountable practice across the life spectrum and in diverse healthcare settings.
2. Demonstrate knowledge, clinical skills and professional behaviors that are underpinned by the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (NMBI 2015) and the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurse and Registered Midwives (NMBI 2014).
3. Practice as a competent Registered Nurse to assess, plan, priorities, deliver and evaluate nursing care based on a comprehensive and systematic assessment of health and nursing needs in consultation with the person receiving such care, their representative and the multi-disciplinary team.
4. Apply theoretical principles to the practice of nursing using professional judgement, critical reasoning, problem-solving and reflection derived from an evidence base of nursing and from the applied life, health and social sciences.
5. Deliver person-centred, high quality and safe nursing care based on a collaborative relationship with a person receiving such care, that respects her/his dignity, autonomy, self-determination and rights to make health and life choices across the health spectrum.
6. Demonstrate skills of effective communication, delegation, inter-professional liaison and team working to promote the quality and safety of the health care environment.
7. Maintain competence to develop and enhance the capacity for self-awareness, reflective practice, leadership and professional scholarship.
8. Apply evidence from an appraisal of research studies relevant to the division of nursing to the practice of nursing.

Students will take 23 theory modules and 8 clinical modules during the four years of the programme. Module content is viewed as interconnected and interdependent. The table below outlines the modules taken each semester for each year of the programme. Modules are designated as either theory or clinical practice:

• Theory modules aim to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills on which to base care delivery.
• Modules are also identified as shared, profession-discipline specific or shared/profession-discipline specific.
• Shared modules refer to modules that are taken by all groups (General, General and Midwifery)
• Profession-Discipline Specific is a specialist module which focuses on the Discipline/Profession specialty

In all theory modules there is an emphasis on exploring the relevance of module content to practice. Similarly, practice modules allow students to explore “new” knowledge in the reality of the practice setting, thus providing students with an opportunity to integrate theory and practice. Internship provides students with an opportunity to consolidate their clinical skills and become confident in their abilities.  Modules in Year 4 Semester 2 concentrate on preparing students for the transition from student to qualified practitioner.

 Below is a summary table of the theoretical modules completed across the 4 years 

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Further Education

Graduates have the option to study a variety of nursing programmes at postgraduate, diploma, masters and PhD levels, for example:

• Master of Health Sciences (Nursing Education)
• Master of Science in Nursing (Advanced Practice Nursing)
• Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences across a wide variety of specialist nursing areas (Intensive Care, Emergency Care, Acute Medicine, Public Health, Gerontology, Midwifery, Perioperative, Wound Healing and tissue repair.)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

Fees: Tuition

Fees: Student Contribution

Fees: Student levy

Fees: Non EU

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