Nursing in TCD?

Siobhnk

Hi! I'm really interested in nursing in TCD, but unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to make it to the open day.

I just wanted to know has anyone any info on the facilities, are they any good? I know UCD have class facilities, I went to that open day, and I'm annoyed now that I cant make my own comparison Are the teaching hospitals good?

I'd really really appreciate it if anyone had any info whatsoever. The CAO is stressing me out so much!!

Thanks

Extrasupervery

I went to the open day last year and am now in 1st year nursing in TCD, but the open day didn't play a part in my decision. It didn't exactly sell Trinity as opposed to anywhere else, you didn't miss much.

The facilities are just as good as UCD, I can't say they're better cause I'm not too familiar with their nursing school. We learn our clinical skills at St. James's Hospital, at the Trinity centre for students. It's got a couple of fake 6 bedded wards to learn from, just like at UCD or DCU. The teaching staff are fantastic, they know their stuff inside and out and are very enthusiastic. They encourage us to come to them when we have free time, to revise skills and make sure we're up to scratch. I was pleasantly surprised at how very willing they are to help us.

Our lectures are in the School of Nursing and Midwifery on D'olier Street, not on the main campus. Monday and Tuesday are full days, 9-5. We have a half day on Wednesdays in first year and your Thursday and Friday depends on which clinical skills you have that week, typically we have somewhere between 6 and 10 hours between the two days. Attendance needs to be high, so don't get in the habit of skipping things because you will miss out. You'll be told that you can't ever miss anything, ever. But this is silly. Just do your best, and make sure you get a cert if you're sick. If your attendance falls below 75% you'll be called up on it, so just get into good habits.

We're going on our first placement in January, it's for ten weeks, meaning that we only have 4 weeks in college next semester. Assessment in nursing is an absolute breeze after the leaving cert (don't hold me to that though, I haven't passed yet). Again if you just discipline yourself to attend you'll be fine. Trinity will send you out an allocation form on acceptance of an offer from CAO, this allows you to choose between St.James's or Tallaght. I have heard from various sources that James's is a better teaching hospital, but I've yet to go near a ward so I can't really say. If you choose Tallaght you might end up in Naas or Loughlinstown for your general placements, so just be aware of that. Places are limited so it's first come, first served.

Another thing to be aware of is that the pass rate in Trinity is 50%, not 40% like UCD and DCU. But repeats in Trinity are free if it comes to it. Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you've got any more questions

DreamingAgain

I'm hoping to do nursing in TCD too and went to the open day in 2011 and this year.Wasn't great to be honest!UCD's was way better.In UCD we got a tour of their clinical setting type thing and stuff.In TCD it was just a really short talk of basically just what's on the website!You didn't miss much!Still want to do it in TCD though!

Anita Blow

Well I assume that's because clinical classes for nurses are over in the Trinity Centre at St. James's and not in the Nursing building

DreamingAgain

Yes but they had a clinical skills session for midwifery which was really good.Hopefully they'll incorporate a small skills session for nursing in future open days.

KDII

I'm currently in third year in TCD doing General Nursing.

Teaching hospitals are grand, to be honest in every hospital you might come across a bad preceptor here and there but its up to you to create the learning experience yourself.

Im in based in AMNCH which I chose for convenience to getting there and have never regretted this decision. the one thing I felt I missed out on in James is doing a placement in the Burn's Unit which is meant to be an amazing opportunity but there have been things in Tallaght that I have got to do which were amazing. Choose whichever hospital you want and which will suit you, if you're coming from outside Dublin and you're living near the red luas line you will have a direct link between the nursing building on D'Olier Street, James (for tutorials and practicals) and Tallaght if you choose to train there.

I never went to any open day so can't vouch for Trinity in that regard but it's international reputation speaks for itself in my opinion.

If you want to go on to do a masters i could recommend trinity highly enough to prepare you for it. I can't speak for DCU but I know the research element of our degree is streaks ahead of UCD in that we do an actual research proposal for our thesis and a literature review in third year whereas UCD's thesis is the literature review. Also having access to Trinity Library and that support is invaluable.

don't be too put off by the 'trek' to James. The clinical tutors make up for it and there is a lovely library there too.

If you have anymore questions PM me.

wibblin

heya, i'm in 6th year and i'm really interested in doing nursing in TCD but i'm not sure about it. Would love if someone could help because i was just wondering about a few things like
what are the hours like? (how early are early morning starts or how late can lectures go on til?)
what are placements like?
male to female ratio?
difficulty of the course/drop out rate?
what's the social side like?
and is it easy to make friends? (really worried about not making friends. )

much appreciated if someone could help?:D Thanks!

frecklier

There are 21 theory weeks in first year. Before Christmas, there is a half day on most Wednesdays, with full day (0900-1700) lectures on Monday and Tuesday.
Thursdays and Fridays all year, there are tutorials and practicals. Depending on the group, students will be free some of these days and will not have full days at other times. There are no scheduled classes on Mondays in Hilary Term (after Christmas).
There are about 20 guys out of a class of 140.

frecklier

Oh, and this year there are about 140 first years and 135 second years. So not that high of a drop-out rate.

wibblin

Thanks for the help, it helped!:P