UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

By 2000, the two-year programme changed to a single intake per year and the theoretical content was increased from 13 weeks to 26 weeks. From this stage, the university assessment process was approved by An Bord Altranais and an ABAMidwifery Registration examination was no longer required. A new curriculumwas required, and this was the first midwifery programme to give academic credits to clinical practice. Learning outcomes for practice placements were introduced and the practice assessment of students changed. Reflective practice analysis was now required on a proportion of clinical experiences.

Launch of BSc (Hons) Midwifery September 2006 Back row L-R: Carmel Barrett, Kathleen Dineen, Annette Keating, Lynda Moore, Agnes Phelan, Margaret Murphy, Geri McLoughlin, Rhona O’Connell, Virginia Buckley, Angela Fleming. Front row L-R: Cathy O’Sullivan, Mary O’Brien, Sr. Agnes Beary, Norah Mansell Quirke, Deirdre Kelleher, July 2018.

MSc Midwifery Graduates 2017, Sheila Coughlan, Antoinette Fletcher, Naomi O’Donovan, Una Cahill

Further change came with the Report of the Expert Group (DoH 2004) which recommended the introduction of the four-year BSc Midwifery and the transfer of the Higher Diploma programme to the university sector. The BSc (Hons) Midwifery commenced in 2006, as a four-year programme. The programme was a significant change for midwife educators to teach the students that did not have a background in Nursing. It was a day of celebration when we had the first programme complete with Annie Codd the first to graduate in UCC with a BSc (Hons) Midwifery in 2010. Since this time, the ERASMUS programme was introduced with midwifery students undertaking placements in England and Finland. An annual student midwife debate is organised by the NMBI, and midwifery students from UCC have been successful in achieving the HH Stewart Midwifery Award. Other developments in midwifery education followed which included the MSc Midwifery in 2013. A number of CPD modules were introduced, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Neonatal), commenced in 2006. PhD opportunities were also available to midwives who wish to pursue this option.

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