Public Health Nursing University of Galway

Overview

Public Health Nursing at University of Galway is for nurses who wish to register and practice as Public Health Nurses, applicants must meet the criteria below.  

• Be registered in the General Nursing Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or entitled to be so registered AND have a minimum of two years' post-registration general nursing experience.* OR

• Be registered in the General Nursing Division and another Division of the Register, including Registered Midwife (RM), Registered Children’s Nurse (RCN), Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability (RNID) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) Divisions of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the NMBI or entitled to be so registered; AND have a minimum of 12 months' post-registration general nursing experience as an RGN, and 12 months post-registration experience as an RM or RCN or RNID or RPN.* AND

• Meet the academic criteria set by the relevant Higher Education Institute (HEI); Hold an NQAI Level 8 qualification (honours degree) or proof of equivalency; Demonstrate that they have undertaken a programme of study at NFQ Level 8. The academic transcript provided will be used as evidence to demonstrate this, and it should be for the highest level award.*

• If an applicant has not studied at Irish NFQ Level 8 or above or is unable to submit a complete academic transcript or is unsure of the level of their award as detailed above or is unable to confirm the level of their award is equivalent to Irish NFQ Level 8 or above they must complete an Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).*

• Applicants whose first language or language of primary expression is not English must provide evidence that their English language ability meets the required standard for admission in one of the following ways*: 

• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - the overall minimum required score is 7.0 on the IELTS assessment test Academic Version, with a minimum of 7.0 in any three components and 6.5 in any one component or the equivalent in another English language test and examination. *certificate must have been completed within 2 years of deadline for submitting Std PHN application. 

• In circumstances where applicants previously met the minimum English requirements, but the cert has expired (applicants must submit the expired certificate with their application), applicants will not be required to re-take the examination if: 

• They have worked, for a minimum of 2 years, through the medium of English in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language.

• Satisfy the selection/admission committee that they have the ability to complete the programme

Careers

Graduates are employed as Public Health Nurses by the HSE immediately on completion of the course. All graduates are provided with full-time permanent positions.  You will have developed a specific knowledge that will enable you, as a community practitioner, to provide primary healthcare and target public health issues in the community.