PgDip in Care of the Surgical Patient (Nursing)
€7,040
Consolidate and expand your research, leadership, and critical analysis skills while exploring how to enhance care of the pre and post-operative surgical patient.
Postgraduate Diploma
1 year
Online - Part-time
60 ECTS
September 2025
About
Advance your theoretical knowledge and develop a critical and questioning approach as you explore professional, clinical, leadership and managerial issues relevant to care of the surgical patient with RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery. Enhance your clinical practice by developing an in-depth knowledge of the principles of surgical care choosing between the perioperative strand or the preoperative/postoperative strand.
Through the development of key research skills, you will be supported to explore evidence supporting safer patient care in these settings and emerging trends in these areas.
This programme is delivered part-time via an active blended learning approach including self-directed learning and live online classes approximately once every week. Further support is provided through the Module Lead, Programme Director and regular online drop-in sessions.
The award title for this course is Postgraduate Diploma Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient); you will have the option to choose between two further specialties within this programme – perioperative or pre/post.
This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.
Enhance your knowledge and understanding of key concepts related to surgical care
Choose between clinical pathways to meet your interests and needs
Enhance your ability to manage emergencies and complications in this setting
Develop key research skills
Enhance your capacity for leadership in practice
Integrate your enhanced knowledge to improve overall patient care and outcomes
Suitable for
This programme is suitable for nurses working in perioperative or pre/post operative care settings.
What you will learn
Faculty highlight
Biography
Dr Liane Teixeira
Dr Teixeira's clinical background is in A&E, with emphases on cardiopulmonary, obstetrics-gynecological and intensive care. Her research interests encompass mental health, education and health IT.
Find out more
Course information
This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of a comprehensive range of knowledge in the area of caring for the surgical patient.
- Articulate a critical awareness of the latest evidence-based knowledge in the specialist area.
- Demonstrate a range of research and specialist knowledge and skills to the specialist area of clinical practice.
- Select from a broad range of specialist skills and knowledge in the specialist area.
- Act in a comprehensive and often unpredictable variety of professional and ill-defined contexts in the specialist area.
- Take significant responsibility for the work of individuals and groups and lead and initiate activity in the specialist area.
- Critically self-evaluate professional and personal learning needs and those of others within your specialist area of practice and link to related continuing professional development requirements.
- Present a reflective and questioning approach to specialist practice delivery and exhibit professional application of your knowledge in an accountable, responsible and evidence-based manner.
Graduates of this postgraduate diploma who wish to take a further step may enrol onto the Masters programme – the MSc Nursing (Care of the Surgical Patient) – and undertake Year 2 of the full programme, completing a systematic review.
The programme will begin in September each year.
This programme is assessed through a range of assessment modalities.
All programmes offered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery are accredited by RCSI, the National University of Ireland and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Recognition by bodies in other jurisdictions must be determined by individual applicants.
Admissions
You must:
- Hold an NFQ Level 8 qualification. However, applicants who do not hold a Level 8 qualification may still be eligible to join the programme through our supported-entry pathway programme. This is subject to an assessment of prior learning and experience.
- Have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or other registration in a country in which they are practicing if international students.
- Be working in the specialist practice of the programme for the duration of the programme.
- Provide a clinical learning agreement signed by a director of nursing or designate.
Learning occurs in many contexts including work, involvement in social and community activities, and learning through life experience generally.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) does not give credit for experience as such – rather, it considers learning that was acquired as a result of the experience. RPL may be used to gain admission to programmes where you may not have obtained the standard entry requirements. This is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Exemptions from programme modules that duplicate learning already demonstrably acquired through prior learning may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, please contact the School of Nursing and Midwifery:
- Tel: +353 1 402 2445
- Email: nursing@rcsi.ie
English language requirements are published here. If you have completed undergraduate/postgraduate full-time studies in the medium of the English language (three or more years cumulatively), or if you are registered with the NMBI, you are exempt from these requirements.
The total fee for this programme is €7,040.
Please note:
- Fees include the €45 NUI fee.
- There is an additional application fee of €50 which is non-refundable.
- Fees are subject to review annually.
- Fees can be paid by bank transfer. Full details on fee payment will be emailed to you before the commencement of your programme.
- You can pay your fees in three instalments – one payment of 40% is due before you commence the programme, while the remaining payments can be paid in two 30% instalments in November and February of your year of study.
- If you meet the criteria for a non-EU student, please contact us for more information on fee payments at tel: +353 1 402 2445 or email: nursing@rcsi.ie.
Sponsored students:
If your study is sponsored by your employer, you will be required to upload written confirmation of your sponsorship when accepting your programme offer. You will be unable to accept your offer until confirmation of sponsorship is received or a payment is made. Please view our Postgraduate fees policy for more information.
How to apply
Applications for September 2025 are now open. Please choose your preferred programme specialty below to apply.