A manager at a hospital designs a training class that uses a simulation by having nurse candidates

Course Overview

Both the Diploma and Masters' courses in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety are on-line/distance learning courses designed to accommodate the busy healthcare provider or simulation centre team member. Healthcare simulation is the modern way to educate healthcare providers to achieve high performance and to improve patient safety. It encompasses manikin based training for teamworking, task trainers for procedural skills, simulated persons for communication skills and virtual /augmented reality.

By completing the Diploma, you will learn how to use simulation in your own practice to deliver better safer healthcare. You will also learn how to use healthcare simulation for quality improvement, systems and process testing and for facilities planning. By completing the Masters programme you will go on to understand how to use simulation for research and how it can support research.

If you are a healthcare provider, involved in healthcare education and research or have an interest in patient safety, then this course will be important for you. A qualification in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety will help you to achieve your career goals in healthcare and simulation.

What makes this course unique ...

• Fully distance learning designed to allow for flexible learing
• Broad course content suitable for all healthcare professions, simulation staff and anyone interested in patient safety
• The final thesis is prepared as a paper for publication and is supported by an experienced group of mentors with a track record in research in the simulation and patient safety space.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Dr Paul O'Connor, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons)
Professor Dara Byrne, FRCSI MCh CHSE-A

There are a number of guest lecturers on the programme from medical, nursing, technology & gaming, business and simulation backgrounds including:

• Ms Brenda Romero is a  is a BAFTA award-winning game designer, artist and Fulbright award recipient who entered the video game industry in 1981
• Ms. Mairin Murray is a digital learning technologist and co-founder Tech for Good
• Mr. Graham Whiteside is founder and owner of Anatomic Excellence
• Dr. Sinead Lydon behavioural psychologist and lecturer in quality, safety and simulation University of Galway
• Ms Anne Sunderland consultant in clinical skills and simulation education and an member of the Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare Executive 
• Ms Bronwyn Reid McDermott simulation operatives technician University of Galway
• Mr Paul Pribaz Chair of the Technology Committee for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and teaches a course on Simulation Program Administration at Drexel University’s Master of Science in Medical and Healthcare Simulation program

Requirements and Assessment

Postgraduate Diploma Science Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

• An honours Bachelor degree at NFQ Level 8
• Demonstrated interest in simulation
• Demonstrated proficiency in English - English competency IELTS score of 6.5 or similar
• Previous experience or academic qualification

Masters of Science Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

• An honours Bachelor degree at NFQ Level 8
• Demonstrated interest in simulation
• Demonstrated proficiency in English- English competency IELTS score of 6.5 or similar
• Previous experience or academic qualification

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

• An honours bachelor degree at NFQ Level 8 in a relevant healthcare discipline (e.g., medicine, nursing, speech and language therapy, pharmacy), although applicants with evidence of at least three years’ equivalent professional/academic experience will be considered (e.g., emergency medicine technicians, simulation technicians).
• A demonstrated proficiency in English.
• Previous experience, or an academic qualification, in the education and teaching of healthcare professionals.
• A demonstrated interest in simulation.

Additional Requirements

Duration

MSc—24 months; PDipSc—12 months

Next start date

September 2023. Please note places are limited and will be assessed and awarded on merit.

A Level Grades ()

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

NFQ level

Mode of study

Distance Learning

ECTS weighting

MSc 120 ECTS; PDipSc 60 ECTS

Award

CAO

Course code

MSC-HSP; PGD-HSP

Course Outline

Both the Diploma and the Masters are online/distance learning courses supported by two intensive immersive face-to-face two-day simulation based education workshops in The Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation in University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland

PDip Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

The course will be delivered in six sequential modules during the academic year.

• Module 1. An introduction to simulation and training in healthcare.
• Module 2. Simulation with manikin and task based trainers.
• Module 3. Standardised patients, virtual patients, and hybrid simulation.
• Module 4. Running an effective simulation-based education programme.
• Module 5. Human factors and patient safety in simulation.
• Module 6. Uses of medical and healthcare simulation beyond education

The course will be assessed through:

• Participation in online discussions with instructors and students; and
• Completion of practically-focused assignments (both written and online narrated presentations).

MSc Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

• Modules 1 to 6 will be delivered during the first academic year. Modules 7 and 8 will be delivered during the second academic year of study.
• Module 1. An introduction to simulation and training in healthcare.
• Module 2. Simulation with manikin and task based trainers.
• Module 3. Standardised patients, virtual patients, and hybrid simulation.
• Module 4. Running an effective simulation-based education programme.
• Module 5. Human factors and patient safety in simulation.
• Module 6. Uses of medical and healthcare simulation beyond education
• Module 7. Research Methods for Medical and Healthcare Simulation.
• Module 8. Research Thesis.

The course will be assessed through:

• Participation in online discussions with instructors and students;
• Completion of practically-focused assignments (both written and online narrated presentations); and
• Completion of a simulation focused research project to be submitted in the format of a journal article.

Module details for MSc Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety Module details for PDipSc Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

The main goal of the course is to develop expertise in design and implementation of healthcare simulation. This will allow you to become a leader in education and open up opportunities in senior academic posts within healthcare. For those with an interest in patient safety, you will gain expertise in human factors and how healthcare processes can be improved. If running a simulation centre, you will develop skills in stakeholder engagement and demonstrating a return on investment allowing you to progress to senior management positions within organisations.

Who’s Suited to This Course

If you are a doctor, nurse, allied health professional (e.g. speech and language, pharmacy, physiotherapy), paramedic or dentist and have an interest in simulation technology, you should consider applying for one of our simulation courses. If you work in a simulation centre as a technician, manager or director and are keen to develop your expertise and progress your career then you should consider applying for a course. 

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,500 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Tuition

€5,360 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Non EU

€9,000 p.a. 2022/23

Student levy €140—payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.  Further detail here.

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