Alisha Collier
Tertiary BSc in ID Nursing Student, Waterford College of Further Education
Alan O’Gorman
WWETB Tertiary Manager
Dr Sarah Sartori
Higher Education Strategic Project Lead, South East Technological University (SETU)
New tertiary degree in Intellectual Disability (ID) Nursing opens pathway into nursing through a route less travelled. One student speaks about her journey so far.
For many students, the journey to university begins and ends with the CAO. But for those who want to pursue a career in nursing, there are other ways to get there.
A different route into nursing
“There’s so much pressure in the last year of school to get into university,” explains Alisha Collier, a Tertiary BSc in Intellectual Disability (ID) Nursing student. “For someone who struggles with dyslexia like me, I doubted whether I would be academically strong enough to get into nursing. I honestly never thought it would be an option for me.”
The National Tertiary Office in Ireland is opening doors, offering a CAO-points-free degree pathway to a Level 8 BSc in ID nursing — among many other skills areas —raising awareness of these different options to FET students in order to fill a recognised skills gap within the nursing profession.
“The best route for each individual might not always be straight,” explains Alan O’Gorman, WWETB Tertiary Manager. “For some students, having the opportunity to build on their confidence and academic ability before progressing to university can make all the difference.”
More than just one way forward
The 1+4 model begins with a QQI Level 5 Nursing Studies qualification at Waterford College of Further Education before students progress to the Bachelor of Science (honours) degree in Intellectual Disability Nursing at SETU. Unlike general nursing, ID nursing is typically community-based, with nurses often supporting people over longer periods and working as part of smaller, multidisciplinary teams, and can be a very rewarding field to work in.
The SETU programme manager introduced ID nursing to students at WCFE, giving them an insight into what the role involves. “ID nursing wasn’t on my radar before,” says Collier. “But after hearing from someone who had experienced it, I knew I wanted to do it!”
For some students, having the opportunity to build on their confidence and academic ability
before progressing to university can make all the difference
Students gain a recognised qualification during the first year and can still apply to other nursing disciplines. “The benefit of this pathway is that students can see where they’re going, without feeling that they’re locked into one particular route,” explains Sarah Sartori, Higher Education Strategic Project Lead, SETU. “The education landscape can be confusing, so having a clear pathway gives students that reassurance, while still allowing them to step off it and explore other options if they decide that’s what they want.”
Achieving in partnership
The partnership between WWETB and SETU is designed to remove some of the practical barriers that can make pursuing nursing difficult. The first year of the programme is fully funded, and costs, including uniforms, books and additional training such as manual handling and first aid, are covered as part of the tertiary pathway. “It’s a highly rewarding experience for both students and staff, which demonstrates the impact of strong educational partnerships,” notes Noreen Reilly, Principal at WCFE.
For Sartori, the ambition now is to build on the success of the first year and make similar opportunities available to more students across the region. “This is the second year of a successful programme, and we’re hoping to continue to grow this opportunity across Waterford and Wexford and into other centres,” she says. “We want to keep building on what we have and create more opportunities for students.”
And while the pathway is opening doors, it still requires hard work and dedication. “It’s not going to be easy; you still have to put in the work and achieve the grades required to progress to SETU, but it’s 100% worth it,” concludes Collier. “It’s such a fantastic opportunity, especially for someone like me who has struggled throughout school and knowing that your place is guaranteed gives you that reassurance to succeed.”
