Short Courses Content
CPD | Nursing
Nursing Care of the Critically Ill Child
This Postgraduate Certificate enables nurses to develop the specialist knowledge and skills required to care for acutely and critically unwell infants, children and young people.
| Duration | 1 academic year |
| Delivery | Blended |
| Fees from | No Fee |
| Start date | To be confirmed |
It focuses on paediatric assessment, stabilisation, early recognition of deterioration and evidence-based interventions, supported by simulation and skills-based learning. Students build confidence in clinical judgement, communication and collaboration within multidisciplinary paediatric critical care teams. This programme is suited to nurses working in children’s hospitals, paediatric units, emergency departments and high-dependency or critical care areas.
For provisional timetables, please refer to the section below titled Delivery.
Fees
| Commissioned Health Trust | No Fee |
| Self Funding / Fee Paying - 2026/27 | £2,568 |
Tuition fees and other charges are set by the University and are subject to change. | |
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have a professional qualification in Nursing, Midwifery, or Allied Health and Social Care Services. See Selection Criteria for full requirements.
The Programme
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Course Content
This Postgraduate Certificate comprises one 40 credit module and one 20 credit module:
Care of the Critically Ill Child (Semester 1 & 2) – This critical care module is designed for qualified nurses working in a range of clinical settings where acutely ill children and young people are cared for. During this module, practitioners will have the opportunity to develop their skill set, in recognising and managing the care of the critically ill child and develop their understanding of the importance of a therapeutic relationship with the child and their family. Lectures on specific body symptoms/conditions relative to critical care nursing, competency training relative to the critical care nursing role, through simulation and critical discussion of the role of the critical care nurse in relation to guidelines, policies and procedures.
HSN7076 – Evidence Based Practice - Students will examine the principles and seven step process of Evidence Based Practice, including reflection on practice, identifying topics of inquiry, forming searchable clinical questions, locating appropriate evidence sources, interpreting research quality, and evaluating how evidence informs decision making, quality improvement and practice development.
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Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will graduate with a Post Graduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Advanced HealthCare Practice (Nursing Care of the Critically Ill Child).
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Delivery
Students should note that delivery may be via blended learning, with a mix of online and face to face classes as detailed within the module timetable on Canvas.
Autumn (AUT) teaching commences w/c Monday, 21 September 2026 (Week 1) and finishes w/c Monday, 14 December 2026 unless otherwise advised.
Spring (SPR) teaching commences w/c Monday, 18 January 2027 (Week 18) and finishes w/c Monday, 27 April 2027 unless otherwise advised.
Venue for first class listed below - thereafter, students should check the Weekly Planner facility on QSIS for remaining venues.
First Semester
(Day)
(Time)
TBC
Second Semester
TBC
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Selection Criteria
Applicants shall normally hold a relevant 2.2 Honours degree or above, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
Applicants who do not hold a 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) may be considered on a case-by-case basis where they can demonstrate evidence of successful study at Level 6 in a healthcare related subject.
Applicants must provide evidence of at least 20 CAT points at Level 3/6. Certificates must clearly state level of study and credit worthiness in order to meet the entry requirements.
In addition, applicants accessing postgraduate certificates must be working in the relevant clinical area.
International Trained Nurses/Midwives: If you hold an international qualification you will need to provide a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. This should be obtained prior to submitting your application. You can apply for a statement through the ENIC website: Statement of Comparability (enic.org.uk)
How to apply
We will advertise again in June 2026 for September 2026 entry.
Please complete the form below if you’d like to join our mailing list and be notified when applications reopen.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST - CPAD PROGRAMMES
For any queries, please email cpadsnam@qub.ac.uk.
Please note that these courses are not open to international applicants living outside the UK/ROI.