School of Nursing and Midwifery University of Dublin Trinity College

Transcription

1 School of Nursing and Midwifery University of Dublin Trinity College Midwifery FAQs Frequently asked questions about Midwifery courses and midwifery practice placements Page 1 of 6

2 Frequently asked questions about Midwifery courses and midwifery practice placements. Should I observe a midwife at work before I come onto the programme? Some applicants have an opportunity to observe midwives in practice (especially if you are applying for the Higher Diploma, you may have had a maternity secondment during your general nurse education). While this experience may be helpful with your decision to apply for midwifery, it may be very difficult to arrange. There are other ways which can help you to get to know more about the midwifery profession books and websites contain descriptions, stories and other relevant information. Talk to people women, midwives, current midwifery students, lecturers in midwifery. Access the hospital websites for local information. If appropriate organise a tour of the university or the hospital site. If I am applying for Higher Diploma in Midwifery / BSc Midwifery via mature route is there a particular type of person that is more likely to be accepted on the course? Midwifery students are a diverse group of people, they can differ in age, life experiences, culture, religion, academic background; however they have a common characteristic the desire to be a midwife. Higher Diploma in Midwifery: Applicants who receive positive feedback for their interview performance generally describe themselves clearly and relate their experiences, interests, strengths to being a midwifery student. They highlight an interest and knowledge of women s issues with particular reference to maternity services and care. They have a knowledge of the course details and are aware of the experiences the hospital placements will afford them. Page 2 of 6

3 BSc Midwifery (Mature Application): application is through the Central Applications Office (CAO), Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway. Tel: (0) ~ help@cao.ie ~ Web Details about entry requirements, the written assessment and the interview can be obtained from An Bord Altranis 2007 publication of Nursing / Midwifery A career for you. Pre-Registration Honours Degree Programmes ( How many sites will I have to access? Midwifery students are based in 1 of the 2 maternity hospital sites affiliated to Trinity College Dublin. These are chosen prior to commencing the course. Those reading BSc Midwifery will have placements in general hospitals or care settings affiliated to Trinity College Dublin. Lectures may occur in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, D Olier St., on either hospital site and on Trinity campuses at College Green and Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital. Do I get to choose my hospital base? BSc Midwifery: Once you are offered a place on the programme you will receive a form which allows you to state your preference of which hospital (The Coombe / The Rotunda) you would like to be linked with. Note it may not be possible for you to be allocated to your preferred hospital as a strict quota applies, in which case you will be allocated to your second choice. Allocations to hospitals are made on a first come first served basis, so it is important that you fully complete and return all required forms as soon as possible. Higher Diploma in Midwifery: the 2 hospitals advertise separately for midwifery students in the national papers, application should be made to whichever hospital on an individual basis. Page 3 of 6

4 Will I be at the same base for the whole programme? BSc in Midwifery students will experience their clinical placements in the chosen hospital site throughout the 4 years of the programme. There will be an option to experience midwifery practice in a different setting during a 1 week self-directed placement. Specialist placements (e.g. exposure to surgery and medicine) will be experienced in general hospitals affiliated to Trinity College Dublin. Higher Diploma in Midwifery: Midwifery students will experience their clinical placements in the chosen hospital site throughout the 18 months of the programme. Therer will be an option to experience midwifery practice in a different setting during a 1 week self-directed placement. How many people are in each intake? BSc Midwifery: It is expected that 40 places will be available in 2007 / Higher Diploma in Midwifery: It is expected that 50 places will be available in 2007 / What is the pattern of attendance which will be expected of me? BSc Midwifery: Midwifery students are required to attend all timetabled sessions, both theory and practice. Permission for voluntary absences must be negotiated in advance with the Course Coordinator. At the discretion of the Course Committee an interruption of not more than five (5) days in total may be allowed in each year of the Programme. Regulations regarding attendance are also stipulated in the The University of Dublin Calendar Part 1: General Regulations and Information and School Handbook (Section Two 2). Page 4 of 6

5 In the Junior Freshman year of the programme, midwifery students will be allocated to practice placements for a minimum of 30 hours per week, spread over 4 days (i.e. 7.5 hours per day). Students are also expected to begin to experience the provision of 24 hour midwifery and maternity care. Students will be allocated to practice for an early duty (07.30 to the start and end times may vary slightly) or a late duty (e.g to the start and end times may vary slightly). Midwifery students will also be allocated to practise over one weekend in each placement in the Junior Freshman year. Higher Diploma in Midwifery: Midwifery students are required to attend all timetabled sessions, both theory and practice. Permission for voluntary absences must be negotiated in advance with the Course Co-ordinator/appropriate Health Service Provider. At the discretion of the Course Committee an interruption of not more than 60 hours in total may be allowed in the programme. Regulations regarding attendance are also stipulated in the The University of Dublin Calendar Part 2 and School Handbook (Section 2). Note, An Bord Altranais, in its document Requirements and Standards for the Midwife Registration Education Programme (2005, Addendum 2007) require the university and the health care institutions to ensure that the student meets the educational programme requirements. Attendance requirements will be explicitly detailed in the Programme Handbooks of each course. Where can I see practice for my self-directed week? One week of the programme may be utilised to facilitated self-directed learning in the form of a visit by the students to a healthcare or allied institution that you would not otherwise get the opportunity to experience (An Bord Altranais 2007). The overall aim of this placement is to permit midwifery students to identify an area/issue related to midwifery and deepen their knowledge and understanding of this self-selected area/issue. This placement will give students the time and the opportunity to pursue an area that would otherwise not be explored in depth during their midwifery education. Page 5 of 6

6 Who are the midwifery preceptors? Midwifery preceptors are midwives who practice in the area where students are gaining experience. The preceptors have completed a specific programme which helps them to support and facilitate the learning needs of students on the BSc and Higher Diploma Courses. What other supports are available to midwifery students in the midwifery practice setting? Each hospital has 2 Clinical Placement Coordinators in place to support students reading the BSc Midwifery. The Higher Diploma in Midwifery has a Course Coordinator appointed to each site. These midwives, with preceptors, link lecturers in midwifery, Midwifery Practice Development Coordinators, clinical tutors and midwives form a team of persons offering support to all midwifery students. Application Process BSc Midwifery ALL applications are through the Central Applications Office (CAO), Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway. Tel: (0) ~ help@cao.ie ~ Web BSc Midwifery (Mature Application) LL applications are through the Central Applications Office (CAO), Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway. Tel: (0) ~ help@cao.ie ~ Web Higher Diploma in Midwifery Please contact the hospitals directly or reply to advertisements in the national papers. The Rotunda Hospital Mags Campion, Secretary, Ext 1495 The Coombe Women s Hospital Moira Murphy, Secretary to Patricia Hughes (Director of Midwifery and Nursing), Page 6 of 6