DN452 Midwifery (NSS4)
School:
Nursing,Midwifery & Health Sys Midwifery is a career for those interested in people and for those with ambition to become professionals with unique skills in the care of women and their newborn infants.
The University College Dublin (UCD) BSc Midwifery programme is designed to prepare midwives to promote health, wellbeing and dignity across the childbearing life cycle through skilled and ethical practice, based on the best evidence and prudent professional judgement. This is achieved through the development of lifelong learning skills for the personal and professional development of knowledge, competencies, skills and attitudes over the duration of the individual programmes. This will lead to a level 8 (undergraduate) award and professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. The learner actively engages in the development of midwifery care to strengthen and enhance the profession’s contribution to maternity services and to the evolution of midwifery knowledge and practice. In addition, the purpose of the graduate midwifery programmes is to develop and enhance students’ critical skills and midwifery knowledge to an advanced level that is responsive to contemporary maternity care needs. UCD Midwifery programmes facilitate the learner to be active, reflexive, autonomous, and motivated through engagement in innovative teaching and learning activities throughout the programmes. Curricula are student-focused, research-led and research informed. This scholarly approach to programme design, aims to inspire passion and excellence in the learner’s discipline by building identity, integrity, commitment and curiosity for the provision of holistic, safe, ethical, compassionate and evidence based midwifery care. The development of midwifery curricula is a dynamic process that reflects the midwifery profession’s responses to societal changes and the reproductive health needs of women and childbearing families. Curricula are developed with stakeholder involvement to ensure that they meet the current and future needs of learners, the development of the midwifery profession and evolving maternity health care systems.
The BSc Midwifery programme is learner focused, involving a wide variety of pedagogical approaches to teaching, learning and assessment to enhance the student experience and encourage the development of learning. Learning takes place in multiple environments across the university and clinical practice settings. The collaboration with clinical partners across the health care sector in the development and implementation of the UCD Midwifery Programmes is a major strength. Students are encouraged to develop an awareness of research, policy and political issues through discourse and dialogue about relevant issues in contemporary maternity care nationally and internationally; thus enabling students to proactively initiate and lead change in maternity care services. Learning is facilitated by the use of a variety of innovative pedagogies and technologies to meet emerging students, professional and health system needs. This commitment to curricula innovation ensures that there is alignment of programme learning outcomes, teaching and learning activities and assessments. UCD BSc Midwifery programme is taught by experts in the fields of midwifery, education, research and professional practice ensuring that learners experience a coherent, cumulative, research-based educational programme that meets all academic and professional regulations, standards and requirements. The programme encourages and suppors future academic and continuous professional development.
- Apply critical, creative, reflective, independent thinking and problem solving to demonstrate clinical decision making and care is safe, effective, evidence based and woman and family -centred.
- Become an independent learner, recognising the value of lifelong learning and is able to use critical questioning, reflection and decision making to build her personal and professional scholarship throughout her career.
- Collaborate effectively in partnership with women, their families, advocates, the public, and professional peers in a competent, compassionate, trustworthy and professional manner that respects autonomy, dignity and privacy.
- Communicate effectively with women, their families, advocates, maternity care professionals, and the wider society in a manner characterized by respect, hospitality and knowledge. This skilled communication is timely, just and comprehensive.
- Demonstrate an ability to consistently and effectively apply knowledge of professional practice and legislative frameworks and national standards and guidelines, in the provision of safe, effective, compassionate and woman centered midwifery care.
- Demonstrate capacity to evaluate, critically analyse and apply research findings and use this ability to apply and integrate best practice which is informed by national and international research in order to advance midwifery practice and delivery.
- Demonstrate leadership and contribute to effecting change in maternity care by promoting innovation and delivering evidence based care. The impact of this on maternity care services will be measured through reflection and systematic evaluation.
- Demonstrate the acquisition of professional and disciplinary knowledge, skills and competencies and attitudes to deliver safe, high quality, compassionate, ethical, legal and accountable practice in diverse maternity care settings.
- Develop a critical awareness of the parameters of professional midwifery practice to provide maternity services that support women through the continuum of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period and care for the new-born after birth and in the first weeks of life
- Identify, promote and support healthy lifestyle choices that enhance the health and well-being of the woman, fetus and baby
- Practise autonomously, recognising and promoting birth as a normal physiological process. Identify women who require consultation and referral to other services, or the provision of emergency care, in a timely manner whilst respecting women’s individual circumstances and views.
- Use technology effectively to enhance midwifery practice and personal and professional development ensuring a contribution to learning, and the delivery of safe, evidence based maternity care.
The term midwifery means 'with woman', so if you are interested in an exciting career based on unique skills in the care for women and their babies then midwifery is for you.
The midwife is the primary care provider for women and their babies during normal pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Midwifery is an autonomous, independent profession and can be practised in various community and institutional settings. This degree offers an exciting and rewarding opportunity for you to care for childbearing women and their families during an extremely important and memorable time.
This four-year degree aims to provide those interested in pursuing a career in midwifery with the full range of knowledge, skills and understanding required to fulfil the role of the midwife, now and in the future. You will study for your degree in the best facilities in Ireland. UCD's Health Sciences Centre brings together under one roof the research and teaching activities of midwives, nurses, physicians, physiotherapists and radiographers.
The UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems has played a central role in developing midwifery education and research by providing professional leadership and fostering scholarship. It is the largest and oldest university-level School in the country and has been providing midwifery education programmes since 1995.
You will study a range of modules in each level of the degree programme, as well as clinical placement. These include:
STAGES 1 & 2
- Scientific Principles for Healthcare
- Structure and Function of the Human Body Part A and B
- Social Science for Healthcare
- Foundations for Midwifery Practice
- Contemporary Midwifery Practice Part A and B
- Promoting Health in Midwifery
- Care and Practice in the Specialist Services
STAGE 3
- Women's Health Surrounding Childbirth
- Complications in Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium Part A and B
- Contemporary Midwifery Practice, Part C
STAGE 4
- Social Science for Healthcare
- Law & Ethics
- Health and Social Policy in Midwifery Practice
- Transition to Woman-centred Midwifery Practice
- Research and Practice
- Management & Quality Improvement
- Teaching and Assessing in the Practicum
- Evidence-based Practice and Clinical Placement
WORK PLACEMENTS
The degree programme incorporates periods of clinical placement in each year, including placements in specialist clinical settings and a period of internship in clinical practice in the final year, for which you are paid a salary and practise under the supervision of registered midwives as a member of the midwifery care team.
Clinical placements take place within the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin and in other healthcare institutions.
The degree programme incorporates periods of clinical placement in each year, including placements in specialist clinical settings and a period of internship in clinical practice in the final year, for which students are paid a salary and practise under the supervision of registered midwives as a member of the midwifery care team. Clinical placements take place within the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin and in other healthcare institutions.
Through international student exchange programmes, there are opportunities for some students to travel abroad.
Successful completion of this programme is the means of entry to the profession and meets the minimum requirements for registration as a midwife, as set out by the professional regulatory body, An Bord Altranais. The award of the degree encompasses registration as a midwife (Registered Midwife).
The midwife has now a wide range of opportunities for career advancement beyond initial registration. These include opportunities for specialisation and advanced midwifery practice.
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