Bachelor Of Science (hons) In Applied Health Care in Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland

Bachelor Of Science (hons) In Applied Health Care in Waterford Institute of Technology

The Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Applied Health Care is a one year honours degree and is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills which students have developed on the BSc in Applied Health Care programme. The modules included in this program address areas of knowledge and skills that will prepare the graduate for a career in range of health care areas such as: mental health and recovery; disability and palliative care; health promotion; ethical and legal issues; and management and leadership.

During this year the student will have an opportunity to explore new and emerging technical roles in applied healthcare. The inclusion of evidence based practice modules in both semester 1 and semester 2 enables the student to develop critical thinking and analytical skills so as to be able to critically examine the evidence base in the area of applied health care.

Unique Features

The BSc (Hons) in Applied Health Care will enable the student to:

• Understand the importance of research based evidence for health care practice, research paradigms and the research process.
• Analyse the roles and responsibilities of the applied health care technical role including operating department practitioner (ODP), pharmaceutical technician (PT), Electrocardiogram (ECG) technician and Respiratory and Cardiac Technician. 
• Examine and explore current philosophical, legal and ethical issues.
• Analyse the concepts of leadership and management theories and their application to healthcare practice.
• Develop the requisite knowledge, skills and understanding to safely and appropriately apply health promotion theory to applied healthcare practice.
• Analyse current challenges and barriers encountered by a person with a disability and examine the role of health care professionals as advocates for the people in their care.
• Develop the requisite knowledge, skills and understanding of recovery in the context of mental health so as to best promote recovery in partnership with service users.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may gain employment in the following areas:

• Applied health care provision in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, clinics, community care settings, nursing homes.
• Managing and coordinating General Practices.
• Sales representatives in the pharmaceutical industry
• Delivery of health care in the emerging tele-health industry
• Health research
• Health promotion
• Technical roles in applied healthcare