Undergraduate study

Overview

• Practice-based learning combined with academic study (50/50 division of time)
• Practice in a new Maternity Unit and a range of community settings
• State-of-the-art clinical skills laboratories and health library facilities
• One-to-one mentor support in practice throughout the course
• Facilities for student academic support
• Excellent skills laboratory facilities and experience
• No tuition fees. Information about financial support is available on our website

The course leads to professional registration as a Registered Midwife (RM) together with the academic award of an Honours degree in Midwfery. The aim of the programme is to enable graduates to be knowledgeable, caring, competent and accountable midwives able to provide a high quality of woman and family-centred care throughout a woman's pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal experience and to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.

The course consists of three year long taught modules offered at Keele School of Nursing and Midwifery. Clinical placements are undertaken in both hospital and community settings.

The ratio of theory to practice is 50:50 in time, emphasis and weighting.

Course Content

The full-time, three-year, Single Honours degree programme is a direct entry course leading to professional Midwifery registration. The programme consists of a 45-week year combining classroom- and practice-based learning with seven weeks annual leave each year.

The BSc (Hons)* programme is designed to develop students into independent learners through a programme of study which combines classroom-based, directed and self-directed learning with full engagement in clinical care, under supervision, to women during their childbirth experience.

In the first year, students will develop the foundation for a comprehensive understanding of the physiological, psychological, social and public health dimensions of normal pregnancy and childbirth. Students will consider the fundamental importance of communication for effective caring and professional relationships and will enhance their skills of spoken and written communication. They will gain insight into the importance of research evidence as the basis for providing optimal care and acquire skills for the critical appraisal and application on research evidence. Students will gain experience of providing care to pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy and in a range of contexts: women's own homes, clinics in the community, hospital and the midwifery birth centre.

This initial foundation will be built on as the course progresses and knowledge developed about conditions that may complicate pregnancy, the impact of these on women,  babies and other family members and the skills and the multidisciplinary teamwork required to manage them effectively. The final part of the programme will prepare students for assuming full responsibility as qualified midwives, ready to contribute to further development or midwifery practice.

Throughout the programme, the focus is on gaining the knowledge, clinical skills and critical and reflective perspectives required to provide excellent care for all women and newborn babies, and to optimise women's positive experience of childbirth in all situations.

All modules integrate theory and practice elements, each year of study encompassess learning organised according to five themes which contribute towards preparation for admission to the NMC professional register:

• The art and Science of Midwifery
• The social context of childbearing
• Personal and professional development
• Ethical and legal principles of professional practice
• Midwifery practice

 Placements

The Maternity Unit of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire moved into a new facility in April 2009. It is one of the largest in the country with a delivery rate of approximately 5,500 babies per year, and it is a designated regional referral centre.

Midwives in the community provide most antenatal and postnatal care, as well as care at home births for a small number of women, and students will enjoy several periods of placement with a community midwife. The hospital has the facilities of both a consultant-led delivery suite as well as a midwifery-led birth unit within it. Consequently, midwifery students have a rich learning environment in which they can develop the skills required to care for women who have a normal pregnancy and birth, and those whose pregnancies are more complex.

The Maternity Unit also has a large Neonatal Intensive Care Unit within it. This provides students the valuable experience of caring for sick and preterm babies.

Students will also gain experience of a range of midwifery-led services, including: antenatal screening, specialist clinics, and women with special needs and women with special needs.specialist support for pregnant teenagers, migrant women and women with problems of substance misuse or mental health problems.

Codes and Combinations

This programme leads to professional registration as a Registered Midwife (RM) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Places on the programme are determined by the local NHS Strategic Health Authority Commissions.

NB: Keele School of Nursing and Midwifery is situated off the main campus at the Clinical Education Centre, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6QG.

We are unable to consider international candidates; currently there are no self-funding places.
 

Customer Services: 01782 679600

Website: www.keele.ac.uk/nursingandmidwifery/

Email: nursing@keele.ac.uk

All applications via UCAS www.ucas.com/apply

Teaching and Assessment

The majority of the taught sessions for the degree programme will be held at the School of Nursing and Midwifery based at the Clinical Education Centre (CEC). CEC incorporates a world-class Health Library that is shared with students within the Faculty of Health and clinical colleagues from local health care organisations.

A variety of teaching, learning and assessment strategies are employed including lectures, seminars, tutorials, presentations and groupwork. Students will be expected to be active in their own learning and self-directed exercises are built into the learning programme. All lecturers in the midwifery team are qualified midwives. Teaching is also provided by midwifery practitioners and other members of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Faculty of Health.

Assessment is undertaken during placements and by the completion of essays, examinations and individual presentations, as well as an oral examination each year as a basis for grading the integration of practice with theoretical learning.

Student progression through the course depends on successful completion of modular assessments and the achievement of outcomes for entry to the Professional Register as a midwife (NMC, 2009).

Assessments during the second and third year will contribute to the Honours classification of the degree.

Senior students on the course, who have made satisfactory progress, may wish to undertake an elective clinical placement at another hospital in the UK or explore opportunities abroad. Students will have to self-fund the costs involved, although travel bursaries may be available for students to access.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery is currently arranging affiliation agreements with universities/hospitals/healthcare areas with Australia, Canada, Sweden and Turkey. Opportunities may also be available to undertake clinical placements with a recognised institution or charity.

The NMC monitors all pre-registration programmes.

Programme specifications (new window)

Skills and Careers

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Entry Requirements

Pre-registration: entry requirements for BSc (Hons) Midwifery

Midwifery Entry Requirements Table

All candidates for pre-registration Nursing and Midwifery programmes are required to meet or exceed NMC requirements, including literacy and numeracy skills.

Applicants' qualifications that are not listed in the table above will be considered on an individual basis.

The School will also consider applicants who hold a relevant Degree, Higher National Diploma or other health-related higher education qualifications.

Evidence of recent study within the last five years is desirable.

International candidates who meet residency/academic requirements of UK students but whose first language is not English will need to hold IELTS with an overall score of 7.

In addition, we prefer applicants to have gained some experience of working with people in a caring environment.

Applicants are advised not to submit a ‘mixed’ application, but to focus on midwifery.

We are unable to consider late applications, ie post 15 January.

The UCAS form currently caters for one nominated referee only. It is a requirement for all Nursing and Midwifery applicants to provide a second reference. Reference forms will be included in the interview letter for all shortlisted candidates. All references must be satisfactory to the University (friends, relatives or neighbours cannot be nominated as referees).

Additional Requirements

Candidates who are successful at the initial stage of selection will be required to satisfy Occupational Health clearances and an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Candidates who have concerns about any criminal convictions, cautions and/or reprimands, however dated they may be, are strongly advised to contact the School for guidance (01782 679600). All such information will be treated in strictest confidence.

The University follows the CRB Code of Practice in these issues (click here for more information) and can provide a copy of the Code on request.

The Maternity Unit of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire moved into a new facility in April 2009. It is one of the largest units in the country with a delivery rate of approximately 5,500 babies per year, and it is a designated regional referral centre. Midwives in the community provide most antenatal and postnatal care, as well as care at home births for a small number of women, and students will enjoy several periods of placement with a community midwife. The hospital has the facilities of both a consultant-led delivery suite as well as a midwifery-led birth unit within it. Consequently, midwifery students have a rich learning environment in which they can develop the skills required to care for women who have a normal pregnancy and birth, and those whose pregnancies are more complex.

The Maternity Unit also has a large Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This provides students the valuable experience of caring for sick and preterm babies.

Students will also gain experience of a range of midwifery-led services, including: antenatal screening, specialist clinics, and support for women with special needs.