PhD, PG Dip TLHE, MSc Nursing Studies, PG Dip Geronotology, Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability
Dr. Maria Caples is a Lecturer in Intellectual Disability in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork. Her PhD thesis investigated the relationship between resilience factors and adaptation in families of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. 

Education: Registered Nurse in Intellectual Disability (RNID); PGDip Gerontology; MSc in Nursing; PGDip TLHE, PhD. Having qualified as a Registered Nurse in Intellectual Disabilities (RNID) in 1995 and following registration she worked as a staff nurse and clinical nurse manager until 2008 when she joined University College Cork. She currently teaches across the BSc undergraduate nursing programmes. 
 
Research interests include quality of life of parents and families of children with intellectual disability, physical health needs of people with intellectual disability, respite care, ageing and intellectual disability, family Resilience with a particular focus on Rare Disease

• Quality of life of parents of children with an intellectual disability
• Respite care.
• Health needs of people with an intellectual disability.
• Older adult with an intellectual disability. 
• Resilience and Rare Disease 
• Genomics and genomic nursing 
• 22q Deletion Syndrome

Teaching Interests

Currently I teach accross all four years accross the BSc Nursing Undergraduate Programme.

NU1066 Supporting Individuals with a Specific Intellectual Disability I (10 Credits) 
This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to support people in a person centred way, cognisant of the causes and specific syndromes associated with intellectual disability. My teaching on this module is focused on the environmental and aetiological factors including pre-conceptual, prenatal, peri-natal and post natal causes of intellectual disability. Nursing care of children and young adults with intellectual disabilities and support of their families. 

NU2078 Health Care Needs of People with Intellectual Disabilities across the Lifespan I (15 Credits) and NU3096 Health Care Needs of People with Intellectual Disabilities across the Lifespan III (15 Credits) 
These modules include teaching on the general health needs of people with an intellectual disability. Through my teaching, I aim to develop students' evidence based knowledge and understanding of a variety of acute and chronic health conditions that may affect people with an intellectual disability accross the lifespan. These modules are taught in years 2 and 3 respectively. I am module leader for both these modules. 

NU3102 Growing Older with an Intellectual Disability in the 21st Century (5 CREDITS) 
The foucs of this module is the development of students' knowledge base for nursing older adults with intellectual disability. I am module leader for this module. 

NU4073 Research for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Care (10 Credits) 
I am a member of a team that support students learning around the exploration of the relevance of research to knowledge development and to evidence based practice. Reviewing the literature and the production of a synthesis of research findings. Formulation of a problem statement based on knowledge of research evidence. Consideration of the range of research approaches and designs. Understand the importance of the translation of research based evidence into clinical practice and health policy.

NU4069- Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice
I am a member of a team that contribute to the development and running of protected reflective education on practice (PREP) for year 4 BSc Nursing Intellectual Disability students . As part of PREP I deliver Making Every Contact Count (Health Service Executive, 2017) to year 4 BSc Nursing Intellectual Disability students. The aim of this programme is to train healthcare professionals to support their patients in making healthier lifestyle choices during routine healthcare contacts.

Postgraduate 
NU6014-  Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals 
NU6073 - Dissertation in Nursing

Teaching Administration Roles 
Year 1 BSc Nursing Programme Co-ordinator 2011-2015
BSc Nursing Intellectual Disability Programme Co-ordinator August 2020 to May 2021

BSc Nursing Intellectual Disability Programme Director September 2024-Present

Research Grants