The training for Irish nurses has changed dramatically in recent years. For standard applicants there is now direct entry through the CAO, based on points achieved in the Leaving Certificate.
There are three branches to the profession: mental handicap nursing, psychiatric nursing and general nursing. You can do a course in one of the three.
The courses are referred to as pre-registration/degree courses. All these courses are at Bachelor of Science (BSc) level.
They take place in 13 colleges in association with 45 main healthcare agencies (hospitals/clinical sites). There are 34 courses and 1,640 places available in nursing: eight courses and 240 places in mental handicap nursing; 12 courses and 343 places in psychiatric nursing, and 14 courses, 1,057 places in general nursing.
The points requirements in 2003 for mental handicap nursing were 200 to 325, for psychiatric nursing it was 235 to 390 and for general it was 350 to 400.
For students who do not achieve these points, but wish to follow a nursing career, the NUI states that holders of FETAC (NCVA Level 2) award with distinctions in five modules, will be granted matriculation for admission to degree courses in nursing.
The Institutes of Technology in Athlone, Galway-Mayo, Tralee and Waterford as well as UCC and UCD are offering places in their nursing degree programmes to these students. NCVA Level 2 awards are acquired through PLC pre-nursing courses available throughout the country.
As part of their training, student nurses have continuous 12-month rostered clinical placement, inclusive of four weeks annual leave and bank holidays, taking place during the third/fourth year of the degree. However, there may be variations between colleges.
During this rostered clinical placement the student is a paid employee of the health service, with a salary of over €19,000 for the 12 months. There is a uniform (clothing) allowance.
For the other three years of the course the student receives a combination of theoretical and clinical instruction and this period generally includes normal third-level college holidays.
During this period the student is not a paid employee of the health service. The usual entitlements & conditions regarding a means-tested grant apply to student nurses.
• Mental handicap nursing
For people with a mental handicap (also referred to as an intellectual disability or special needs), learning new skills can be difficult. Individuals with intellectual disabilities can overcome many of their difficulties and develop spectacular talents, especially when they are given the help and support to do so.
Registered mental handicap nurses (RMHNs) can help people with intellectual disabilities to develop the ordinary life skills we all take for granted so that they can live their lives as fully and as independently as possible.
• Psychiatric nursing
Anyone can experience mental health difficulties at any stage. The principal illnesses experienced include depression, anxiety, phobias, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and grief reactions due to any sense of loss. Any of these illnesses can happen to adolescents, adults or the elderly population and the primary role of the psychiatric nurse is aimed at meeting the needs of people experiencing these difficulties.
The three primary goals of psychiatric nursing are: promotion of mental health, prevention of mental illness, provision of holistic care and support for individuals experiencing mental ill health.
• Mature Applicants
The mature code is for those applicants who are 23 years of age or over on 1st January 2004 and who do not have, or do not expect to have, the education entry requirements. Mature application must be made by the 1st February 2004.
A quota of places is allocated to mature code applicants. As a guide only, this is approximately 15 per cent for general nursing, 35 per cent for psychiatric nursing, and 35 per cent for mental handicap nursing. However, this is a fluid quota and may vary between courses. There are two reasons that quotas are higher for psychiatric and mental handicap. Mainly because hospitals and clinics prize the experience and judgment that non-school-leavers bring to the profession, but also because there is massive over-subscription on the general nursing side, and a quota there would really push the points up.
For mature students, a test is due to take place in mid-April. According to the Nursing Board this will test the numerical and verbal reasoning of candidates, but also assess their previous work experience. If candidates pass this section they will be called to interview in late May when they have a chance to explain - in person - why they would make a suitable nurse.
In June they will be told whether they have passed this. If they have, they will be ranked according to their score in the aptitude test and offers will be made in August, in what is known as round zero.
• Healthcare Workers Sponsorship Scheme
The sponsorship scheme, whereby a candidate's salary is paid for the duration of the course, is open to Irish public health service employees, such as healthcare assistants and ward attendants who are directly involved in the delivery of care to patients/clients within a nursing context.
There are up to 40 places available and these are part of the quota of places for mature code applicants.
For details of the scheme, contact the nursing & midwifery planning development unit (NMPDU) in the region where you work.
• Registration with An Bord Altranais
An Bord Altranais (The Irish Nursing Board) is the statutory regulatory body for the nursing profession in Ireland. In order to practice as a nurse in the Republic a person must be registered with An Bord Altranais, after they graduate.
For information consult An Bord Altranais's website www.nursingcareers.ie
• Brian Mooney's column on CAO options will appear daily in the run-up to the February 1st deadline.
• You can email Brian Mooney on bmooney@irish-times.ie
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