About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: B711A
- Applications: University
- Level: Undergraduate
- Department: Nursing and Midwifery
- Campus: Glenside Campus
- Duration: 18 months (78 weeks) post-registration
- Delivery: Full-time
- Study Abroad: No
Introduction
The Department of Nursing and Midwifery has an international reputation for offering the highest standards of teaching in the field. This programme is designed to produce professional practitioners able to provide and assume responsibility for quality maternity care.
This programme is for Registered Nurses, and will give students all the necessary academic and clinical skills needed to register as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
(Photo by Stuart Miles)
Structure
Content
The programme has a modular structure and includes modules on the fundamentals of midwifery, complexities of midwifery care, meeting contemporary challenges in midwifery, midwifery practice, and a dissertation. Throughout the programme there are also underpinning themes such as holistic assessment of women's needs and choices, public health, effective communication, evidence based practice, diversity, mental health and vulnerable people, ethical issues, partnership working, leadership, service user and carer involvement. Towards the end of the course, students will be exposed to problem solving, judgment and decision making in preparation for becoming a registered midwife.
Assessment
This course is in a modular format in which both clinical and theoretical aspects of the programme are continuously assessed. A variety of assessments are utilised within the modules to assess both the theoretical and clinical components of the programme. These include unseen examinations, clinical grading, reflective portfolios, objective structured clinical examinations and a literature based dissertation.
Special Features
Placements
Students will be allocated throughout the NHS Trusts offering maternity services in the South West region including Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bath and Swindon. Here students will gain practical supervised experience, usually within one Trust, working in the main maternity unit as well as in the community.
Community placements may be with small units, teams or conventional GP practices. Students can therefore expect to have a variety of experiences which they are encouraged to share with each other.
Careers/further study
Having a midwifery qualification can open up a potentially satisfying and exciting future career. Holders of the BSc(Hons) Midwifery degree usually initially practise midwifery in a hospital, low risk midwifery unit or community team setting. Some midwives also practise within a case load format which offers the women increased continuity of care during pregnancy and childbirth.
Following initial practice, midwives may follow a number of routes, becoming either expert or consultant clinical practitioners in midwifery, developing management skills or becoming lecturers and/or researchers in midwifery. Others may choose to work abroad, using their professional qualification in a variety of ways. There is also encouragement for each midwife to continue her/his professional development, and the Department of Nursing and Midwifery has an extensive range post-qualifying programmes to support this.
Selection
All suitable applicants will be interviewed following the satisfactory completion of a biographical questionnaire, and will have to satisfy an occupational health screening process; they must be of good health and not knowingly suffer from any defect which might preclude them from carrying out the duties of a midwife. A police check is required of all successful applicants who will be working with young babies.
Entry
Typical offers
Entry requirements
In order to qualify for this study programme, you must meet each of the following entry criteria:
- Have current registration with the NMC as a Nurse, Adult (Level 1) and have at least 6 months post qualifying clinical work experience in this branch of nursing.
- Have evidence of study to at least Higher Education Diploma (DipHE) Level 2 with 60 credits.
- Have evidence of recent academic study, normally within the last three years e.g. pre-registration programme or post-registration (CPD) module.
- Have recent and appropriate work experience within an acute clinical area e.g. hospital ward.
- Have undertaken a research module either within your pre-registration study programme, or post-registration (e.g UZWR38203 Evidence and Research in Practice).
- Be able to provide two satisfactory references from both academic and services resources (e.g. current employer).
Fees
Course fees will be paid for by the NHS and there is currently an attractive bursary, plus travelling expenses.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011