UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

public health nursing students came fully under national governance which ultimately controls the yearly selection of students to meet workforce needs. The HEIs and the HSE work closely to manage a national joint application process and successful applicants are contracted to the HSE for the duration of the programme and for a period of 18 months thereafter. Thus, Public Health Nursing education in Ireland is more tightly controlled than when it originated. While the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing programme dominated community nursing education in UCC, attempts were made over the years to extend the community nursing education offerings. A postgraduate Certificate Nursing in the Community was launched in 2009 and coordinated by Dr. Mary Rose Day and ran for a number of years. Additionally, a syllabus was twice developed for practice nursing. While there was professional, interest in both these programmes lack of funding, requirement for practice and lack of career pathways have impacted on recruitment of students. The latter proposals in particular were somewhat constrained by the fact that General Practitioners are independent contractors and funding was not ring-fenced for practice nurse education.

Public Health Nursing in Ireland like community nursing services around the world is in the midst of health policy changes, which seek to strengthen primary health care and population health. Sláintecare was published in 2018 and unlike previous health service reform is a cross- party 10-year plan. Care in the community at all levels is a cornerstone of this plan as is greater interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral team working to improve outcomes for persons accessing the health services. The School of Nursing and Midwifery is sensitive to these developments and as in the beginning will be ready to embrace changes relevant to educationally preparing health care practitioners to practice well into the future.

Ms Ann Clancy Erasmus Public Health Lecturer from University of the Arctic, Tromso, Norway, Dr. Patricia Leahy-Warren, Dr. Mary-Rose Day, Dr. Helen Mulcahy

Since the beginning, the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing programme has been fortunate to have the support of inspiring clinical partners. These included people like Mrs. Ann O’Connor and Mrs. Margaret Daly (Superintendent PHNs in North Cork); Mrs. Mary O’Flynn (Assistant DPHN North Cork and lecturer on the programme); Mrs. Emer Carroll (Lecturer and DPHN in Waterford); and many others, right up to the present day. They ensured that preceptor RPHNs from all over the country supported thousands of student nurses, on both long and short clinical placements over the years. Their valuable contribution ensured safe and effective graduates, fit for practice in Ireland’s nursing services.

98