Nursing Science (General)

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Nursing Science (General) course is an internationally recognized four-year degree programme during which students learn the art and science of nursing.

The University of Galway provides this programme in partnership with the Saolta University Health Care Group, Blackrock Health Galway Clinic, and Bon Secours Hospital Galway. The programme consists of theoretical and clinical modules. The theoretical content aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to underpin their professional practice. The teaching and learning strategies include lectures, seminars, workshops, experiential learning, clinical skills education and simulation in our state-of-the-art clinical skills and simulation suite. The programme focuses on person-centered care and positive therapeutic relationships, communication skills, therapeutic interventions, and inter-professional team working, to enrich student experiences and help them prepare for the reality of professional practice in an ever-changing health care environment. These are further supported by clinical modules, which are undertaken in practice settings such as acute hospitals, community and in specialist placements.

Clinical modules are undertaken in the practice setting where students get a broad range of clinical experience in different clinical placement sites across the Saolta University Health Care Group, Blackrock Health Galway Clinic, and Bon Secours Hospital Galway. Additionally, students will attend placements in various community settings. Experts in the nursing and allied health professions will support students to become caring, compassionate professionals, working in partnership with people, families, and communities. The first three years of the programme 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 32 hours per week. Year four comprises of clinical and theory instruction in semester one and a 36-week internship in clinical practice which runs from January to September. During the internship period, the student is an employee of the Saolta University Health Care Group and are paid a salary.

Following completion of the programme, students are eligible to apply to register as a registered general nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), the regulatory body.

Student Support within the School and the University

The School of Nursing & Midwifery is committed to supporting students in relation to both their academic and personal development; the structures that are in place to support students within the school and university are presented below.

Academic supports

Academic Advisor  
Each student is allocated an academic advisor for the duration of the programme. This advisor will monitor the students’ academic progress and is available to advise and support the student if they encounter difficulties either personal, academic or relating to clinical practice whilst undertaking the programme.

Academic Writing Centre- Providing one-on-one tutorials and email consultations on essay writing

Library- The Library provides a wide range of services to all students. Learn about these services, opening times and lots more on their webpage

Academic Skills Hub- This online resources hub aims to support all students to develop the key skills required for academic success and learn about IT and digital skills, workshops, assignments and exam techniques.

Student Academic Advisors- Available to meet with students who wish to discuss personal, academic, financial or any other issues that may arise while in University.

Health and wellbeing Supports 

• The Disability Support Service (DSS) is available to University of Galway students who need supports or reasonable accommodations due to the impact of a disability, ongoing physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty.
• Student Counselling provides a free hybrid service of in-person, one-to-one counselling, and online counselling. They provide group counselling and workshops. The counselling service support about 10% of the student population each year.
• Student Health Unit provides a wide variety of medical support services including GP services, sexual health support service and vaccination clinics.

Support for students when on Placement

While on clinical placements, students are supervised by a Preceptor. This is a nurse who has been specially prepared to guide and direct student learning.  Students are also supported by the Nurse Practice Development Co-ordinator and the Clinical Placement Co-ordinator, who ensures that learning outcomes are identified and achieved.  Each ward / geographical area has an identified Link Lecturer from the school who is available to link with the student when they are on clinical placement to support them and manage any issues that arise.  This helps ensure that there is a close liaison between the school and clinical practice in the support of students.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Course Outline

The students on the programme must successfully complete the following theory and practice modules to be eligible for registration as a general nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.

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. Both the School and the programme has a strong research foundation so that our graduates are well informed and evidence-based practitioners who have the skills needed to address global health issues.

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 (2023).

1. Acquire the knowledge, professional values and discipline specific competencies 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 behaviours underpinned by the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (NMBI 2015) and the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (the Code) (NMBI 2021).
3. Practise as a competent registered nurse to assess, plan, prioritise, 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 multidisciplinary team.
4. Apply theoretical principles to the practice of nursing using professional judgment, critical reasoning, problem solving and self-reflection derived from an evidence base 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 their 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 healthcare environment.
7. Maintain competency 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 it.

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 on each other. 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, Mental health, 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.

36-week Clinical Internship in Year 4 of the programme 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.

Practice Placement

Practice modules are sited in the clinical setting and focus on the integration of theory and practice. Theory and practice are juxtaposed to enable students to assimilate classroom learning with experiential learning in the clinical practice area. Practice placement are an essential component of the programme, ensuring that the student has sufficient opportunities to develop skill and competence in care provision and decision making, meeting the requirements for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI 2023). Practice modules are sequenced throughout the programme and commence in Year 1 Semester 1. This is in line with the Requirements and Standards 

from (NMBI 2024) for an early clinical placement. Careful consideration has been given to the timing of practice placements to ensure that students can enhance their skills with each practice experience, while simultaneously building on the preceding experience.

Students take advantage of the various areas of expertise available within HSE West - University Hospital Galway, Portiuncula University Hospital, Merlin Park University Hospital, Blackrock Health Galway Clinic and Bon Secours Hospital Galway.

Below is a summary of the placements.

Year 1 to Year 3 of the programme the student spends between 8-17 weeks each year out in practice placement integrated across each semester. In year 4 of the programme, the students spend the final  36 weeks of the programme out on clinical internship see table below for full account of placement each year.

Below is a summary table of the theoretical modules and practice placements completed across the 4 years.

Study Abroad and Erasmus  

There is study abroad opportunities within Europe and beyond that are available for students through the Erasmus Programme and other international partnerships with universities and/or care facilities in different countries such as Spain, USA, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Learning and Teaching

At the School of Nursing and Midwifery, we aim to deliver a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential. We provide a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life to work and make use of innovative technologies. We have a world-class library that enhances our students’ development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this programme are:

E-Learning technologies

Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space, podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities.

Lectures

Introduce information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers)

Practical and Simulation Based Education

We provide opportunities to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts in our clinical skills labs and simulation suite.

Self-directed study

Self-directed study is an essential part of life as a University of Galway student.  This time affords the student with opportunities to undertake important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and research work for assignments.

Seminars/tutorials/workshops

Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students). These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic. This affords the student opportunities to ask questions, to assess progress and understanding with the support of peers. Students are also expected to make presentations and other contributions to peer groups.

Inter-professional Education (IPE)

Students have opportunities to engage in inter-professional learning.

Attendance

Students are expected to achieve 100% attendance in all the components of the programme (theory and practice).

Assessment

Assessments are carried out in a variety of formats, including written assignments, exams, poster and oral presentations, dissertations, project work, case studies and clinical skills assessment.

• The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning outcomes of each module. Details of how each module is assessed is provided to all students at the start of each module.

Curriculum Information

Further Education

There are a variety of continuing professional development opportunities available to graduates of this programme, in particular postgraduate programmes within the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Galway.

Nursing graduates can pursue further study at Post Graduate Diploma, Masters and PhD level:
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, Accident & Emergency, Oncology & Haematology, Palliative Care, Diabetes. 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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