RCSI PgDip in Health Professions Education (Nurse/Midwife Tutor)

How to secure teaching hours

Securing academic teaching hours can feel challenging if you have not done it before, but there are several practical steps you can take. Students from previous intakes have successfully arranged their hours through the following approaches: 

1. Contact your local higher education institutions (HEIs) 

Reach out to: 

• Schools of Nursing and Midwifery (SoNM) 

• Centres of Nursing and Midwifery Education (CNMEs) 

• Universities or colleges offering nursing, midwifery, or health sciences programmes.* 

Explain that you are completing a postgraduate module that requires supervised academic teaching hours and ask whether they can facilitate: 

• Classroom teaching 

• Simulation teaching 

• Online session delivery 

• Small-group facilitation 

• Assessment support 

• Skills teaching 

Provide a brief CV when contacting them – this helps them understand your clinical background and potential contribution. 

2. Speak to your clinical education or practice development team 

Many hospitals and healthcare organisations have: 

• Clinical Facilitators/Clinical Educators 

• Practice Development Co-ordinators 

• Education Departments 

These teams often collaborate with HEIs and may be able to arrange supervised academic teaching sessions on your behalf. 

3. Approach lecturers or educators you already know 

If you have previously completed training or CPD programmes, you may have connections with educators or lecturers. Reach out directly and ask whether they could support you with a limited number of teaching hours. 

Keep the request specific, e.g.: 
“I am required to secure academic teaching hours. Would it be possible to participate in tutorials, skills sessions, or supervised teaching in your programme?” 

4. Consider online and blended teaching opportunities 

Some HEIs provide remote teaching opportunities – for example, assisting with: 

• Virtual tutorials 

• Online skills stations 

• Moderation of discussion forums 

• Digital teaching resources 

These can count as academic teaching hours if appropriately supervised. 

5. Offer flexibility 

You may have more success securing hours if you are open to: 

• Teaching across different modules or levels 

• Evening or weekend sessions 

• Blended or hybrid teaching formats 

Flexibility shows goodwill and increases placement availability. 

6. Obtain written confirmation 

Once an HEI or department agrees to support you, it is helpful to ask for written confirmation outlining: 

• The type of academic teaching you will undertake 

• The approximate number of hours 

• The name and role of the supervising educator 

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* Irish Higher Education Institutions with Schools of Nursing/Nursing and Midwifery 

These institutions all deliver accredited nursing or midwifery programmes and may have relevant academic teaching opportunities: 

• Trinity College Dublin 
  School of Nursing and Midwifery 

• University College Dublin (UCD) 
  School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems 

• University College Cork (UCC) 
  School of Nursing and Midwifery 

• University of Galway 
  School of Nursing and Midwifery 

• University of Limerick (UL) 
  Department of Nursing and Midwifery 

• Maynooth University 
  School of Nursing  

• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences 
  School of Nursing and Midwifery 

• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) 
  Department of Nursing 

• Munster Technological University (MTU) 
  Department of Nursing and Healthcare Sciences 

• South East Technological University (SETU) 
  School of Health Sciences (includes nursing) 

• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) 
  Offers nursing and health-sciences programmes at selected campuses