Kildare university’s new School of Nursing to welcome first students

Maynooth University’s new School of Nursing will welcome its first students in September, following official approval by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

Applications for the School’s BSc in General Nursing programme open on 28 August, through the CAO ‘Available Places’ facility. The first intake of 30 students will commence their undergraduate studies in September.

Professor Fintan Sheerin, Founding Head of the new MU School of Nursing, said student numbers in the Kildare university are expected to rise to 100 over the next four years.

Welcoming approval by the NMBI of the new School of Nursing this week, Prof Sheerin said: “Maynooth University is in a unique position in establishing a wholly new school of nursing. This hasn’t been done in an Irish university for about two decades. We are ideally placed to take the lead in tackling challenges and in re-shaping Irish healthcare education and service delivery.

“Our new School of Nursing is at the forefront of a new wave in healthcare education. We are committed to inclusive pathways for diverse learners – that was explicit in our commitment that 50% of our students will come from further education and mature learners.”

The nursing programme, established by Prof Sheerin and his colleagues Dr Adeline Cooney, and Dr Myles Hackett, reflects the policy recommendations of the Expert Review of Nursing and Midwifery Curriculum published last year.

This means that Maynooth University has a head start with its pioneering curriculum approach that will soon apply across all institutions. The programme is offered in partnership with HSE Dublin and Midlands Region.

The School of Nursing incorporates a vision of community health and wellbeing that will be at the forefront of how service delivery is evolving towards community care hubs and minor injury units. It is fully aligned with the Government’s 10-year health service plan, Sláintecare.

Prof Sheerin explained: “What makes the new School’s approach especially distinctive is our focus on integrating community care and primary care - shifting away from a hospital model of nurse education to a community-focused model of maintaining health and well-being.

“Digital health innovation is also a key component of the nursing curriculum. Maynooth University has the opportunity to be a leader in digital health integration and sustainability,” he added.

Based in the Eolas Building on campus, the School incorporates a state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory that mirrors hospital and community care environments. Students will combine theory with hands-on practice in a controlled environment.

While a BSc in General Nursing will be the core programme, the School will later incorporate other areas of nursing, and is expanding to postgraduate programmes, and research and innovation.

President of Maynooth University, Professor Eeva Leinonen, said the development  of the new school was part of the University’s strategic plans to develop new programmes in health and medicine:

“Today’s announcement represents a significant milestone for Maynooth University, as well as for the future of healthcare delivery, research and education in Ireland. Following many years of considered planning we feel privileged to see our new School of Nursing come to fruition and fulfil our mission of delivering a cutting-edge curriculum that will actively cultivate compassion and innovation, together with scientific rigour and clinical excellence.

“Forming part of the University’s Strategic Plan from 2023-2028, the new School of Nursing will embrace interdisciplinary collaboration, building on our existing and emerging academic and research capabilities in areas such as biomedical sciences, chemistry and digital health. By fostering inclusive pathways for learning, we look forward to welcoming and inspiring the next generation of nursing professionals.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, welcomed the new School:

“This new undergraduate nursing programme at Maynooth University marks an important step in expanding healthcare education in one of Ireland’s fastest-growing regions. It is a new and exciting direction for Maynooth University.

“I greatly look forward to the impact these graduates will have in addressing workforce needs in our health service, which is a key priority of government. Work is underway to expand healthcare programmes and increase supply of graduates to meet acute skills shortages. This new nursing programme is a very welcome addition to achieving that goal. The new School of Nursing will ensure that communities across Ireland will benefit from a new generation of highly trained nurses. 

“I want to congratulate Maynooth University for their leadership, dedication and innovation in entering healthcare provision in higher education, and I look forward to continued engagement with the University as it continues to develop.”

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill added: “The availability of highly-trained health and social care professionals is essential to improving access to care and ensures our workforce keeps pace with population and demographic changes.

"We have made significant progress, working in collaboration with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the higher education sector in increasing student training places for the health sector.

“I commend the partnership between Maynooth University and the HSE, in particular the Dublin and Midlands Region, that has led to the development of this programme.”

Further information about Maynooth University’s new BSc in General Nursing is available here.

Others welcoming Maynooth University’s new School of Nursing include:

Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Kenna:

“This initiative represents a welcome step forward in the future of our health workforce, health and social care services and patient care. I would like to acknowledge the future focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and digital health in the nursing curriculum at Maynooth University. This will be an important enabler for the nursing profession as they continue to lead on the design and delivery of integrated healthcare now and into the future.”

Eileen Whelan, Regional Director of Nursing and Midwifery, HSE Dublin and Midlands Region:

“We welcome the opportunity to work with Maynooth University to ensure all students get the best opportunity for an excellent clinical experience in the region. It is a particularly exciting time for healthcare in the region as this programme is a response to the national policy direction to increase the number of nurses educated in Ireland and the programme will facilitate students with new and innovative opportunities to work in community care settings.”

Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and Midlands Region: “The launch of a new General Nursing undergraduate programme marks a significant milestone in the delivery of Sláintecare and the continued transformation of healthcare in the region. This strategic initiative will expand the number of nurses trained and educated locally, strengthening the regional workforce and supporting the delivery of care closer to home. Graduates of the programme will embody the core values of care, compassion, commitment, competence, and innovation—ensuring that patients and service users receive high-quality, person-centred care where and when they need it.”

“The programme aligns directly with our integration agenda and supports the delivery of timely, responsive care in the right place, with the right skillset. Ultimately, this will lead to better health outcomes for patients and greater professional satisfaction for the staff who deliver that care. The programme reflects our long-term commitment to building a sustainable, community-based healthcare system—where education, workforce development, and service delivery are seamlessly aligned in support of Sláintecare’s principles.”

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