Janice Irwin RGN, RCN, B.Sc., Grad Dip, MSc.
Employment Summary:
Clinical Research Nurse
National Children’s Research Centre
May 2012 to present
 The Clinical Research Nurse role involves the setting up of clinical research studies,
attending research clinics, the recruitment of participants, clinical care of participants
and the management of data.
Senior Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
July 2008 to April 2012
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin
 This role involves providing holistic care to critically ill neonates and children, who are
frequently in multi-organ failure. The majority of these are cardiology and
cardiothoracic cases. This requires extensive clinical skills and knowledge as the
staff nurse has overall responsibility for managing the ICU patient.
 My responsibilities include orientating and educating new staff and student nurses. I
have undertaken a preceptorship study day to enhance my skills in teaching and
assessing. Teaching of clinical skills, from oxygen saturation monitoring to care of
central venous lines, is a large part of the preceptor role.
 In November 2008, I undertook a 3-day course to train as an Extracorporeal
Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) specialist. This very advanced form of life support
is utilised when children fail to wean from cardio-pulmonary bypass following cardiac
surgery, or for cardiomyopathy or acute respiratory failure. It requires excellent
clinical skills and knowledge as the ECMO specialist has overall responsibility for all
aspects of patient management, from analysing blood results and administering
blood products accordingly, to managing heparin infusions and fluid balances.
 As a senior staff nurse I take charge of the unit frequently, when no Clinical Nurse
Manager is available. As acting manager of the unit, it is important that my skills are
kept up to date so that I can act as a resource for all staff.
 In 2008 I was asked to become an assessor for nurses undertaking the Graduate
Diploma in Paediatric Critical Care in University College Dublin.
Clinical Educator
Nov 2007-Jun 2008
Intraveno Healthcare, Citywest, Dublin 24
 I was responsible for managing pre-sale trials of intravenous infusion and anaesthetic
equipment, and training staff in hospitals which had purchased the equipment.
 The training that I organised included demonstrating the necessary steps in using the
equipment, and assessing each staff member so that they could be listed as having
been trained to competent level, and therefore safe to use the equipment.
 My catchment area was every county in Ireland, both North and South.
Senior Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
May-Nov 2007
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
 I was promoted to senior staff nurse level after I completed the Graduate Diploma in
Paediatric Critical Care.
Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Jul 2005-May 2007
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
 This role involved providing holistic care to critically ill neonates and children, who
were frequently in multi-organ failure. The majority of these were cardiology and
cardiothoracic cases. This required extensive clinical skills and knowledge as the
staff nurse has overall responsibility for managing the ICU patient.
Staff Nurse, St. Peter’s Ward
Oct 2004-Jul 2005
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin
 On St Peters neonatal medical and surgical ward I cared for babies and infants up to
one year of age with various medical and surgical conditions. These babies required
treatments ranging from phototherapy to TPN.
 During the course of my work on St. Peter’s ward I worked with many student nurses,
both pre- and post-registration. I was responsible for teaching students various
clinical skills, including care of intravenous lines, monitoring fluid balances, and
nasogastric feeding.
Educational Details:
Master of Science in Nursing
University of Dublin, Trinity College
Sept 2009-June 2011
Modules: Advancing the Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
Theory and Practice of Research Methods for Healthcare
Ethics and Law in Healthcare
Health Services Management
Facilitating Learning in the Practice Environment
Advancing Professional Theory and Practice
Advanced Research Methods
Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Critical Care Nursing
University College Dublin
Sept 2006-May 2007
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Sept 2004-May 2005
Higher Diploma in Nursing (Sick Children’s Nursing)
University College Dublin
Apr 2003-Sept 2004
Diploma in Nursing (General)
University of Limerick
Oct 1999-Sept 2002