Please note to be eligible to apply you need to be:
1. Be registered as a nurse or midwife on the register of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI);

2. Have a minimum of an honours primary degree in Nursing or equivalent

3. Be currently employed as a nurse or midwife and in the areas of practice that you plan to undertake you Advance Practice Programme

4. Have support of both a Professional (DON, ADON/Practice Manager) and Clinical (medical consultant or general practitioner) Mentor for 500 hours of clinical mentorship, evidenced by a completed Site Declaration Form

5. Written commitment/memo of understanding or equivalent from the director of nursing/employer to support the student during the clinical practicum and to nominate a suitably qualified practitioner to act as a clinical supervisor during the student's clinical learning experience

6. Comply with current minimum entry requirements for admission to the programme of education for nurse prescribing. This includes:
- Have a minimum of three years’ recent post-registration clinical experience in nursing or midwifery (within the last five years)
- Have equivalent of ‘one year’ full time experience in the specific area of clinical practice that you will be prescribing and practicing in
- Possess the competencies recognised at Level 8 of the National Framework of Qualifications;
- Provide evidence of having undertaken continuing professional education;
- Have support of both a Professional (DON, ADON/Practice Manager) and Clinical (medical consultant or general practitioner) Mentor for 96 hours of clinical mentorship, evidenced by a completed Site Declaration Form.

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.

An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

Next start date September 2026

This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

The advanced nurse practitioner role is highly sought after in both the Health Service Executive (HSE) and private healthcare settings. These roles are expanding in response to healthcare system needs, particularly in rural and community-based services. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) as a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) provides national recognition, improving mobility across healthcare settings and regions. The advanced nurse practitioner role typically offers a competitive salary in comparison to other clinical nurse roles.

ANPs are employed in a variety of specialist areas, including:

Emergency and urgent care
Chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes, COPD, heart failure)
Mental health and psychiatry
Women’s health and gynaecology
Paediatrics and adolescent care
Oncology and palliative care
Community and primary care settings
Specialist areas such as plastics, gastroenterology, neurology, urology, critical care and other areas.
With national recognition through RANP registration, graduates also gain access to:

Policy and advisory roles in healthcare organisations
Multidisciplinary leadership positions
International career opportunities in advanced practice nursing
Graduates of the?Master of Science in Nursing (Advanced Practice Nursing) are well-positioned for a wide range of advanced roles within the healthcare system. Many go on to become leaders in clinical practice, education, and research. Also, some Advanced Nurse Practitioners have progressed to doctoral-level study (PhD) and secured roles as lecturers, researchers, and academic leaders within third-level institutions.