Midwifery Studies with Registration

The BSc Midwifery Studies programme aims to prepare students to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council statutory proficiencies required to register as an autonomous midwifery practitioner. It seeks to develop the knowledge, skills and professional values needed to provide safe, effective and individualised care that is sensitive and acceptable to women and their families. The programme emphasises the distinct role and responsibilities that midwives have within public health and inter-professional teams working in maternity services. There are opportunities to explore local, national and international contexts of maternal health and to undertake a free allocation elective in year 3.

The programme teaching and learning approaches utilises a blended learning approach comprised of lectures, seminars, structured reflection, student led presentations and group work, clinical skills simulation, e-learning and independent study. The assessment strategy includes formative and summative assessments such as unseen exams, multiple choice and observed structured clinical examinations, essays, projects, portfolios and clinical practice assessment.

During your first year you will gain insight into the history of the midwifery profession and the foundation of the current statutory framework for midwifery practice. In addition you will develop skills in information retrieval, interpretation and critique, in order to evaluate the reliability and validity of different types and levels of knowledge that underpin professional knowledge. You are introduced to biological and social science perspectives that inform midwifery practice and are provided with opportunities to consolidate a range of basic midwifery skills associated with 'normality' in reproductive health care.

In your second year you will continue to develop your understanding of the research process by exploring different methodological approaches to the generation of high quality evidence based care. You evaluate the specific contribution of the midwife within the multi professional team particularly in relation public health promotion strategies such as sexual and psychological health. In addition there are opportunities to explore a range of features that contribute to aspects of the assessment, implementation and evaluation of care through a continuity of care project. You will also consider different organisational aspects that influence maternity care and evaluate the impact that different care models have for perinatal and maternal care outcomes and client satisfaction. You are encouraged to reflect on case studies drawn from clinical practice and to develop a reflective approach to care particularly when reviewing complex midwifery and obstetric situations and common medical disorders encountered in childbearing women.

The emphasis in the final year is to prepare you for entry to the register and to develop your understanding of decision making processes in a variety of midwifery and obstetric scenarios. You will consolidate your understanding of the role and sphere of midwifery practice and learn how to effectively manage a range of emergency situations. You will gain insight into managerial and supervisory dimensions of midwifery practice and how institutional frameworks can support public safety and the post qualification education and professional development of midwives. In addition, with the support of a research supervisor, you will undertake a focussed student project on a specific area of interest.