Declan Corcoran - BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

Why did you choose this course?

My career to date has predominately involved dealing with people through customer service. However I always felt that I wanted to do more, to help people at higher level. Having researched my options I felt that nursing would fulfil this need within me.

What attracted you to IT, Tralee?

I had been living in Laois but as part of a “grand plan” I decided to change careers and go back to college. We had family ties in Kerry and the reputation of the Nursing Department in IT, Tralee had a big bearing on our decision to relocate here.

What do you think of IT, Tralee?

My experience here has been very positive. The lecturers are excellent, the college is a very open place so the lecturers are always accessible and there is always a helping hand if you need it.

What about the facilities?

The facilities in the Nursing Building, Sólás, are excellent and the new library is second to none. As a mature student with family commitments I found WebCT invaluable, being able to access course notes from home really helped me to stay on top of my studies.

What have you enjoyed most about studying in Tralee?

I fear that this may sound a little corny, but what I most enjoyed about my time in Tralee was the fact that, while my motivation may have been to help others, I found that the experiences and knowledge that I gained helped me to mature and grow as a person. A large portion of our course was spent within the clinical environment where learning opportunities came from observation and participation. This is an area where, as students, we come face to face with every day people; here we are afforded the privilege of being present in the good times and the not so good. I have never once sighed at the thoughts of going into work as a student nurse and I feel that a lot of the reason for this is due to my time in IT, Tralee.

Caroline Murphy - Year 4 BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

"The combination of theory and practice, maintained my interest throughout. I also enjoyed being afforded the opportunity to ask questions openly in the classroom and the supports available to students while on placement namely the nursing staff on the wards. I feel privileged to be experiencing the course, as I have been involved in the lives of people at their most vulnerable point, during illness, sadness and happiness. Personally I believe no other course can prepare you for both personal and professional growth like this one."

Ann Marie Bright – Mental Health Nurse

As part of my role as Staff Nurse (Mental Health) I work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team both in in-patient and community settings. It is part of my remit to provide both physical and psychological care to those I serve. Fundamental to the role of the Mental Health Nurse is the therapeutic relationship where support and encouragement are provided to empower the Service User to achieve recovery. There are many challenges inherent to working in public service, most of which are out of the control of one Staff Nurse. IT Tralee taught me that despite this, individually we can make a huge difference to those in need and have a positive impact on their experience.

The nursing programme at IT Tralee has a fantastic reputation – the standards set and support provided to achieve these benchmarks is exemplary. Having peers that go ‘above and beyond’ to support Nursing students reinforces the importance of this quality and is something I try to emanate in my practice. The culture of questioning that is nurtured at IT Tralee remains with me – prompting me to always consider if my interventions are quality, effective and considered best practice.

Studying at IT Tralee provided me with far more than a degree and the means to register with NMBI. They nurtured my individual skills, attributes and qualities and helped me grow as a person. This foundation gave me to confidence to pursue the MSc in Perinatal Mental Health at the University of Limerick – an area of practice I hope to specialise in.

Carmel Penrose - Year 4 BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

"I know that it sounds a but of a cliché but I enjoy helping people and feel that with this qualification I can make a little bit of difference. I really enjoyed the mix of the group. I was a bit nervous about being a mature student on the course but there was no need. I really enjoyed the placements and particularly enjoyed the placement that I was able to undertake in the UK. One of the abiding features of IT Tralee is the great support from the academic staff and the great student support services for those who need them."

Evelyn Finnegan - Certificate in Wound Management

I am Evelyn Finnegan, Community Nurse in South Kerry Community Care. I started the Wound Care Management course in September 2015 and since then I have completed a module on Evidence Based Practice in semester 1 and I am doing the module on wound care this semester.

I cannot recommend this course highly enough. It has provided me with fundamental knowledge and skills in wound care and enables me to provide the best care and support for people who are living with both healing and non-healing wounds in the home-care setting.

The informal classes really support my learning style as I am coming from a practice background where a significant portion of my time is spent on managing wounds.

I really believe that more nurses working in both the community and the hospitals should participate in this course as I have been motivated and empowered in my practice. 

Rowell Villones - Masters of Science in Nursing

My name is Rowell Villones. I am currently a part-time student in Master of Science in Nursing programme at Institute of Technology, Tralee while working full-time as a Senior Staff Nurse in Adult Critical Care Unit in University Hospital Kerry.

I have completed my Diploma in Leadership in Institute of Technology, Tralee in May 2016, which was a step for pursuing my Master’s degree. The flexibility of the programme and the utmost support of the lecturers aided me to continue this journey, despite my demanding workload and family commitments.

I have found that the expertise and professionalism of the nursing faculty in Institute of Technology, Tralee was exceptional.

I believe that this programme will contribute greatly to my holistic development and will help me achieve my pursuit in advancing my nursing career.

Amanda Brolly - Diploma in Leadership

I commenced the Diploma in Leadership at the Institute of Technology Tralee in September 2015 and will complete with 25 credits at level 9 in May 2016. The course included 4 modules in total.

Leadership, Evidence Based Professional Practice, Ethical Decision Making in Professional Leadership and Quality and Risk Management. Generally I attended college on Wednesdays for 10 weeks before Christmas and 10 after.

This course was really relevant to my current nursing practice. I feel that I have developed my leadership competencies to a high level. The tutors were both supportive and engaging. The class atmosphere was relaxed and informative. Definitely a course that has a real practical application.

Amanda Brolly, RGN, BSc. Minor Award in Leadership (Student) Staff Nurse in Critical Care, University Hospital Kerry.

Hazel Byrne - BSc in Health and Leisure

‌Why did you choose this course?

I really enjoy sport and being physically active and I thought it would be great to get a career in something I love.

What attracted you to IT, Tralee?

The course is very varied. You gain great experience working with young children and older adults, helping them to be more physically active . The course is excellent and you can gain so much from it.

What do you think of IT, Tralee?

I thought the IT, Tralee was brilliant. The course is challenging but the Health and Leisure lecturers are great and are willing to help you as much as possible.

What about the facilities?

The facilities are of a good quality. Because of the nature of our course we use a lot of the sports facilities such as an aerobic hall, gym, swimming pool, etc. The IT, Tralee has done a great job for the health and leisure course giving us as much experience as possible in working with people to be more physically active.

What have you enjoyed most about studying in Tralee?

The part of college I really enjoyed was meeting a lot of new people and doing something I love.

James Barry - BSc in Health and Leisure Studies. Schools Mental Health Co-Ordinator, Jigsaw, Kerry

"Overall my time in I.T. Tralee was the best it could have been both academically and socially. The student/lecturer ratio in the I.T. meant that you learnt from the best, in a comfortable, encouraging atmosphere. The course gave me a broad range of practical skills across a variety of sectors that have, without a doubt, been the greatest asset to me in gaining employment and furthering my career opportunities."

Christine Costelloe Sheehy - Year 4 BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education.

"I'm the third family member to have attended IT Tralee and my experience was extremely challenging and enjoyable and the networking among students and lectures was very beneficial. The facilities here are very good and being based in my home town is great. I had two children while completing my course and the college has been very supportive to me. The services are excellent for everybody's individual needs and requirements. I have enjoyed my four years here in the institute and I would recommend the college to anyone who is willing to put in the hours - you must have an interest in your course. I have seen a lot of changes in the whole childcare industry and this course has prepared me to face these challenges and changes when I hope to commence work in September."

Louise O Connor - Year 3, BA in Early Childhood Care and Education

"The subjects on this course are really interesting and relevant. Because the course is so broad it explores all avenues of childcare and allows you to pick the elements of the industry which most interest you. There is a good college work/life balance, the course is really interesting and in no time at all you get to know everyone in your class. I would really recommend Early Childhood Care and Education at IT, Tralee to anyone who has an interest in this field."

Karen Farrelly - Graduated 2009 with a BA in Social Care. Currently a Residential Childcare Worker (HSE).

"The IT, Tralee was a great college to attend, the lecturers were supportive, the library was well stocked and there was always fun to be had. In order to be considered for a position in residential childcare one must have a degree in social care and the subjects covered in all three years were invaluable in helping me to prepare for employment, to gain confidence and build a great knowledge of theory which I use when performing my duties at work on a daily basis. As a mature student I found the support services brilliant. It was great to get together with other matures for chats and support."