THE diploma based programme of nurse training has been expanded considerably this year, with a 70 per cent increase in the number of places available. This year there are 876 places compared to 514 in 1996. All 17 general nurse training hospitals are now included in the programme.
The traditional apprenticeship model of nurse training is being replaced by a new diploma which is operated by the schools of nursing in association with third level colleges. Student nurses who successfully complete the programme will be awarded a diploma in nursing from the associated third level institute and will be eligible to be registered with An Bord Altranais. It is anticipated that graduates will have the option of studying for a further year to get a degree.
Seven schools of psychiatric nursing are now participating in the college associated diploma and, for the first time, two schools of mental handicap nursing are also taking part. The Minister for Health, Michael Noonan, says that he is firmly committed to the diploma programme and to providing the necessary resources for its full implementation in all nursing disciplines at the earliest possible date. An additional £7 million has been provided this year, bringing the total investment to £13 million.
The application and selection process for places on the diploma is handled by the Nursing Applications Centre in Dublin. Advertisements appeared in the national media last week. Leaving Cert requirements are Irish, English, maths, one other language, a science subject and one other subject.
Students must have a minimum grade C3 in higher level papers in any two of these subjects and a minimum of grade D3 in ordinary or higher level papers in the other four subjects.
For application forms and an information booklet write to the Nursing Applications Centre, PO Box 5711, Dublin 2, or call the voice mail number (01) 662 2127. Closing date Friday, May 16th. (See also Sile Sheehy's Q&A column on page 9).
Meanwhile students applying for medicine through the CAO should note that there are now three course codes for the Royal College of Surgeons. The free fees scheme does not apply to the RCSI and the codes are an attempt to deal with the 10 scholarships offered by the college. The new codes can be used with a change of mind form.
THE two new codes are RC002 (course ref: EEX) if you hope to get a scholarship based on the RCSI entrance exam RC003 (course ref: LCE) if based you hope to get a scholarship on the results of the Leaving Cert. Five places are available under each of these courses codes. Use these codes if you will accept a place ONLY on condition that you get a scholarship.
If you will accept a place, whether you get a scholarship or not, you could use all three codes (RC001, RC002 and RC003) on your form. The obvious problem here is that you are using up three out of your ten degree course preferences. This seems a very clumsy way of dealing with what is an internal college situation as it has the knock on effect of restricting students choices.
