Scholarly Impact Report 2023

CATHERINE MCAULEY SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY, UCC

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PART A: TEACHING, CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY AND PRACTICE, AWARDS

Promoting Academic Wellbeing & Support (PAWS)

Programme Mission “MCC PAWS @ UCC is committed to supporting student learning, health and wellbeing through the presence of My Canine Companion dogs.” Expected goals of MCC PAWS @ UCC • Enhance Campus Experience: Introducing therapy dogs creates a positive and joyful atmosphere, benefiting both students and staff at University College Cork. • Promote Wellbeing and Belonging: Therapy dogs boost student wellbeing and foster a sense of belonging, enhancing their university journey. • Offer Volunteer and Social Opportunities: Students and staff can engage as volunteers, fostering a close community centered around the welfare of these furry friends. • Raise Awareness of Dog Benefits: The program increases awareness of dogs’ positive impact on mental health and stress reduction in a university setting. Targets and relevance of MCC PAWS @ UCC This project strongly aligns with goals two and four of the UCC Strategic Plan 2023-28. Goal Two (Student Success) emphasizes UCC’s dedication to nurturing the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of its students. Goal Four (Our Staff, Our Culture) aims to broaden the array of supports accessible to students. Having access to MCC expertise and resources on campus will be invaluable for students facing

mental health challenges, as it provides emotional support and facilitates social connections through canine companionship.

In addition, the team were successful in a competitive funding bid to push the boundaries of traditional healthcare delivery by introducing a novel approach that has the potential to positively impact the lives of stroke patients. The aim of this research project is to explore canine-assisted therapy in an interdisciplinary stroke rehabilitation space focusing on the influence of canine therapy to rehabilitation outcomes and interdisciplinary collaboration. Therapy dogs also regularly visit the Glandore Suite and Intensive Care Unit at CUH with trained UCC students and MCC trainers/handlers.

MCC Sandy

Final year nursing student Linh My Troung (wearing black UCC t shirt) with fellow students and MCC dogs.

Lecturer, Ms Maria O’Shea, with the integrated and general student nurses and MCC trainer, Ms Nicole Duggan