Cancer Nursing

PgDip
Nursing and midwifery

Course details

Specialist knowledge and skills are an essential component in the multidisciplinary management of oncology patients. This fully accredited one-year part-time programme in Cancer Nursing – delivered in partnership with Beaumont Hospital – is for nurses working in an oncology setting, to help develop their clinical knowledge, judgement and practice to an advanced level.

Course code: C10101

Learning outcomes

This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to critically: 

  • Discuss and demonstrate advanced decision-making skills relating to leadership and management in the cancer setting. 
  • Evaluate and utilise advanced knowledge and critical thinking skills relating to the nursing management of the major cancer diseases and side effects. 
  • Discuss and demonstrate advanced clinical decision-making skills to manage patient caseload incorporating nursing interventions and psychosocial aspects. 
  • Discuss and evaluate the nurses role in education and dissemination of knowledge to patients/relatives/staff. 
  • Evaluate the role of the nurse in the primary and secondary prevention of cancer disease incorporating best evidence based practice. 
  • Evaluate and utilise advanced knowledge and critical thinking skills relating to the path physiology/epidemiology/genetic and other risk factors associated with cancer.

Modules

The programme consists of three core modules and three specialist oncology modules and uses a blended learning approach, utilising lectures, clinical placements, reflections Moodle and self-directed learning.

The first three modules are delivered in RCSI with the remaining three modules and clinical component delivered in Beaumont Hospital.  

The programme modules are:

Module name Credits Assessment method
Advanced Research Methods 10 Assignment
Advanced Leadership - Professional & Clinical 10 Assignment
Professional Critical Reflexivity and Competence 10 Assignment and clinical portfolio
Fundamental Concepts of Cancer Nursing 10 Assignment
Major Adult Cancers -or- Breast Disease -or- Colorectal Disease 10 Examination
Psycho Oncology 10 Case study and poster presentation