BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing
Course code: WD120

What is Intellectual Disability Nursing?

Intellectual Disability nursing is seen as a speciality field of nursing that provides holistic care to persons with an intellectual disability.  Intellectual disability nurses work as part of a transdisciplinary team in order to enable and empower people with intellectual disabilities to achieve their full potential.

Reasons to choose this course

Nursing is an excellent choice for students interested in a healthcare career.  Because human beings are complex, careers in nursing are amongst the most challenging; they are also some of the most rewarding.  Once graduated, your qualifications will take you anywhere in the world.  The Intellectual Disability Nursing Programme is delivered in a purpose-built, state of the art learning environment and students undertake clinical practice in many hospitals throughout the south east region.  Successfully completing all aspects of this programme allows you to register as an Intellectual Disability Nurse with An Bord Altranais.

Career Opportunities

Gradutes may practice as a Registered Intellectual Disability Nurse within the Irish healthcare sector and voluntary services.  Universally Irish nurses are highly regarded in other countries thus enhancing work opportunities.

• Residential care
• Day-care facilities
• Respite services
• Special education services
• Community nurses for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Clinical Placements

Clinical experience is an important element of the course and is a requirement in order to register as an Intellectual Disability Nurse. There are 80 weeks of clinical placement throughout the course, including a 36-week experience in year 4 during which you will be paid.  Students will be accommodated on clinical placements in Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow & South Tipperary.

Follow on Study

Following qualification it is possible to specialise in a number of areas within intellectual disability nursing i.e. challenging behaviour, multiple and complex diabilities.  Alternatively graduates may choose to pursue advanced studies in nursing education or nursing management.

• MSc in Nursing (following two years relevant experience)
• Postgraduate Research

Course Outline

Semester 1	Semester 2
Nursing as Caring 1 Clinical Placement Professional Safety and Communication Enquiry and Research Skills 1 Caring for client with Urinary, Digestive, Reproductive and Genetic Disorders	Lifecycle 1 Caring for client with Cardiovascular Respiratory Disorders Clinical Placement Intellectual Disability Perspectives
Semester 3	Semester 4
Nursing as Caring 2 Enquiry and Research Skills 2 Caring for Central Nervous System and Endocrine Disorders Developing Caring in Practice 1	Lifecycle 2 Pro Development & Communication Intellectual Disability Education & Relationships Developing Caring in Practice 2
Semester 5 - 8
Other topics studied in semester 5 to 8 are: Professional development and facilitation of learning, Intellectual disabilities and behavioural interventions, Intellectual disability and complementary /alternative therapies, People with Intellectual disabilities and late adulthood, and Community and Residential services for people with intellectual disabilities across the lifespan
Semester 7 & 8
Clinical Experience (36 weeks)

Course Facts

Course Title: BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing
Course Code: WD120
Course Level: 8
Duration: 4 year

Course Entry

Leaving Certificate:

• Number of subjects at grade D or better: 6
• Number at higher level grade C or better: 2

Required Subjects

• English/Irish: OD3/HD3
• Mathematics: OD3/HD3
• A laboratory science subject (biology, physics, chemistry, physics & chemistry (joint) or agricultural science).
• Three other subjects (may include Irish or English and a laboratory science subject not included already) or have equivalent second level educational qualifications to the foregoing.
• The minimum educational requirements may be accumulated over not more than two sittings of the Leaving Certificate examination or an equivalent examination.

Additional Applicant Requirements

Fitness to Practice - All applicants will be required to undergo a medical examination, at their own expense, to establish that they are healthy enough to take up the profession of nursing.  Full details will be sent to all on-time applicants.

Garda Clearance - All applicants will be required to complete Garda Vetting Application Forms.  Please note the following with regard to  vetting procedures once registered with WIT:

• Applicants will be provided with relevant forms and documentation for vetting within Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic
• It is mandatory for applicants who have resided abroad for a period greater than 6 months since the age of 12 years to provide WIT with a Police Clearance Certificate from those countries
• Clinical placements can only be arranged for students on receipt of satisfactory clearance
• Further information re Garda/Police clearance is available from the Nurse Allocations Office, WIT at 051 845601

Mature Entry

Use course code WD820 for applications to the CAO for mature entry.

For further inforamtion:

Course Coodinator: Suzanne Denieffe, MSc, BNS, RGN, RPN, RNT
Email: sdenieffe@wit.ie

Recent Entry Points

Year	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Minimum Points	350	285	330	355	360

See also

• WIT Admissions Office