College Choice: The education and training of Irish nurses has changed dramatically in recent years. For standard applicants, application is through the CAO, based on points achieved in the Leaving Certificate.
There are three courses, each of four years duration: intellectual disability nursing (previously mental handicap nursing); psychiatric nursing; and general nursing.
These three courses are referred to as: pre-registration/degree courses. All pre-registration/degree courses in intellectual disability nursing (RNID), psychiatric nursing (RPN), and general nursing (RGN), are at level 8 honours Bachelor of Science (BSc).
They are run in 13 higher education institutions in association with 45 main healthcare agencies (hospitals/clinical sites).
There are a total of 34 courses and 1,640 places in nursing - eight courses with 240 places in intellectual disability nursing; 12 courses with 343 places in psychiatric nursing; and 14 courses with 1,057 places in general nursing.
For details of the points that were required in 2004 for these courses, refer to "Becoming a nurse standard code entry requirements" on the Nursing Careers Centre (NCC) website.
Level 2 courses:
For students who do not achieve these points, but wish to follow a nursing career, 10 of the higher education institutions will consider specific FETAC level 2 courses, with specific modules as an equivalent entry. Application is made through the usual CAO method.
As part of the course, student nurses undertake various clinical placements. The first clinical placement occurs early in the course. The final clinical placement consists of a continual 36-week rostered clinical placement/internship. During that placement, the student is paid 80 per cent of the 1st point of the staff nurse pay scale. The usual entitlements and conditions regarding a means-tested grant apply to student nurses.
Intellectual disability nursing: Registered nurses in intellectual disability (RNID), a specialist division of nursing, can help people with intellectual disability develop the ordinary life skills.
Psychiatric nursing: The three primary goals of psychiatric nursing are: promotion of mental health; prevention of mental illness; and provision of holistic care and support for individuals experiencing mental ill health.
Mature code applicants
The mature code is for an applicant who was aged 23 or over on January 1st, 2005.
Mature code applications must be made by tomorrow through the CAO.
A quota of places is allocated to mature code applicants. As a guide only, this is approximately 15 per cent for general nursing. Mature applicants take a written assessment and are interviewed. A copy of last year's assessment is available on the NCC website.
Healthcare workers sponsorship scheme: This 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. There are up to 40 places available and these are par of the quota of places for mature code applicants.
For details of eligibility to apply for the scheme, contact the nursing and midwifery planning development unit 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 practise as a nurse in the Republic, you must be registered with An Bord Altranais.
Nursing A Career for You: This excellent publication is available, free of charge, from the NCC.
Further Information :
- Nursing Careers Centre
- An Bord Altranais
31/32 Fitzwilliam Square
Dublin 2
Telephone: (01) 639 8500.
Email: ncc@nursingboard.ie. Website: www.nursingcareers.ie
Final day for postal applications: Applications posted after today will be deemed late applications and will potentially exclude from consideration any application for restricted application courses.
Anyone considering posting an application today should present the CAO handbook to the post office while handing in the envelope and have them stamp the inside back cover with a certificate of postage. This guarantees that the application will be accepted.
Those applying online have until 5.15 p.m. tomorrow to submit their application.
College Choice concludes tomorrow
Today is the final day for postal applications. Tomorrow is the final day for on-line applications.
r You can email Brian Mooney on bmooney@irish-times.ie
r Are you confident you will secure your CAO option? Join the discussion forum on Skoool.ie, the award-winning education website developed by The Irish Times, AIB and Intel.
