Graduate Certificate in Dermatology
Course Code:
DC741
Course Type:
Postgraduate
NFQ Level:
9
Delivery Modes
Part-Time
Duration
1 year
The DCU School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health offers a blended learning Graduate Certificate in Dermatology. Open to nurses and midwives working in a variety of settings who encounter people presenting with skin conditions including those requiring minor surgical skin procedures. The programme is delivered by leading experts in the field of dermatology including registered Advanced Nurse Practitioners and medical experts.
The purpose of the course is to provide specialist education for nurses and midwives to advance knowledge and skills in the care of people who have dermatological conditions. This course sets out to address a nationally recognised need to develop educational provision for nurses and healthcare professionals in the field of dermatology. The programme is delivered in partnership with clinical experts from practice including Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioners in Dermatology/A&E, Consultant Dermatologists, SpR Dermatology/Plastics and other healthcare practitioners with specialist expertise in caring for people with dermatology conditions.
Who should apply:
Nurses and healthcare practitioners working in hospital and community settings. This course is open to many nurses such as tissue viability nurses, GP practice nurses, PHN/Community nurses amongst others, and provides the opportunity to progress towards advance practice roles i.e. minor injury/day surgery units, acute and community-based care settings.
The programme is not running in September 2022.
The structure of the Grad Cert award will comprise 30 credits. Students will undertake three modules in total: two 10 credit core modules and one 10 credit option module. Aimed at busy professionals wishing to study part-time, the programme offers two pathways of study (determined by their clinical work setting):
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Pathway 1 offers three specialist, clinically focused modules of interest to those working with dermatology clients including those requiring minor surgical skin procedures. It offers candidates with a special interest in skin conditions, the opportunity to build upon and consolidate existing competencies, progressing towards advanced roles i.e in hospital-based dermatology roles/settings.
- Pathway 2 offers modules to candidates working in a variety of settings where clients present with skin conditions but would not require minor surgical skin procedures.
Core Modules:
- NS5077 Chronic Skin Conditions module focuses on commonly occurring chronic dermatological conditions.
- NS5102 Dermatology Treatments and Therapies focuses on skin conditions requiring specialist topical and systemic treatments and therapies.
Optional modules (choose one):
- Pathway 1: NS5057 Surgical Skills for Healthcare Practitioners* module provides candidates with the opportunity to develop and consolidate minor surgical skills capability, i.e. cryosurgery, wound debridement, lesion identification, local anaesthetic administration, suturing, punch biopsies and curettage, abscess and cyst management. Candidates will need to work in an area where they are likely to encounter the need to undertake minor surgical skin procedures.
- Pathway 2: NS558 Advancing Evidence-based Practice will provide participants with the knowledge, skills and core competencies needed to utilise evidence-based practice within clinical settings. Note, the offer of this module is dependent on sufficient numbers.
Modules on the programme are also available to undertake on a stand alone basis. Candidates who do not wish to apply for the Graduate Certificate programme can undertake single modules only but need to apply separately. Please note, it will not be possible to seek the award of Graduate Certificate in Dermatology retrospectively where all three modules comprising the programme are registered for and undertaken on a stand alone basis.
Candidates who have previously successfully completed dermatology Stand alone modules in DCU will be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning when registering for the Graduate Certificate Award.
DCU is a young, innovative, research-intensive and globally-engaged university. It seeks out opportunities to transform lives and society through innovation, research and teaching excellence with more than 120 programmes offered over five faculties. Transforming lives and society is a central mission underpinning the development of dermatology education within the School. We have established a strong collaboration with expert clinicians from the field of dermatology/minor injuries and community practice. Dermatology modules have been delivered on a stand alone basis within the school for a number of years leading to demand for, and subsequent successful accreditation of, the Graduate Certificate in Dermatology award.
The programme will offer candidates a high quality teaching and learning experience equipping them with the capacity to build and grow their professional expertise. They will graduate with a skill set enabling them to transform the lives of patients in their care, help to maximise health outcomes and help ease the burden of chronic disease on society.
This programme will support healthcare professionals who wish to further their career in a particular area of practice, e.g. where there are opportunities for developing new services, models and roles, or for specialist and advanced practitioner roles in healthcare provision. It will also help professionals gain valuable postgraduate clinical/practice education, thereby helping them to progress in their chosen career.
Requirements
- Candidates will be required to hold a primary degree (Level 8, NFQ or equivalent). Those who do not meet the entry requirements will be considered on a case by case basis. Previous relevant professional development/experiential learning will be considered in accordance with the DCU policy on Recognition of Prior Learning
- Candidates must be working in an area of practice where they will see patients presenting with dermatological conditions. In addition, for module NS5057-Surgical Skills for Healthcare Practitioners; candidates must be working in an area where they are likely to encounter the need to undertake minor surgical procedures.
- Candidates must provide a signed declaration from their employing authority confirming their agreement to ensure an optimum learning experience is provided for the student. This includes the provision of supports necessary to promote and sustain ongoing engagement in a clinical supervision process to enable the student achieve clinical competencies in practice. Candidates will be required to furnish a completed ‘Engagement Agreement for Clinical Supervision Process’ from their employing authority/line manager prior to commencement. This form accompanies the application form.
- Candidates who have already completed one or both of the existing stand-alone modules in Dermatology (NS5077 Chronic Skin Conditions or NS5057 Surgical Skills for Healthcare Practitioners) will be eligible to apply to undertake the proposed award. As per DCU Marks and Standards they may seek exemptions, through the appropriate Faculty channels, for credits successfully achieved (within a given timeframe). It will not be possible to seek the award of Graduate Certificate in Dermatology retrospectively in the event that all three modules comprising the programme are undertaken on a stand alone basis.
- Applicants wishing to apply for the programme must be registered or eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
Fees
Part time
EU Status Fee Part-time
€3,600 per annum
Non EU Fee Part time
€7,800 per annum
Next Steps
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All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
All Applicants must submit:
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Academic transcripts for each and every year of study (with English translation where applicable)
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Please upload a CV, outlining relevant experience, under the "Supplemental Items & Documents" section.
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Completed ‘Engagement Agreement for Clinical Supervision Process’
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If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml.
Application Deadlines
The programme will not be running in September 2023.
Queries
Queries from EU applicants should be directed to postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie.
Queries from non EU applicants should be directed to international.office@dcu.ie
Applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of gaining entry into Ireland are advised that they are ineligible to apply for this programme.
Commencement of Programme
The programme will not be running in September 2023.
