Midwifery BM (Hons)

The theory part of the course will be provided mainly in our study centre in Bangor but also in Wrexham along with study in other areas across north Wales and private study. Practice placements will be with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Assessment is continuous throughout, and consists of both theory and clinical assessment along with course and group work. The course is based on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s guiding principles, which establish the philosophy and values underpinning the requirements for entry on to the midwifery part of the professional register: Provision of woman centred care Ethical and legal obligations Respect for individuals and communities Quality and excellence in midwifery care Lifelong learning The changing nature and context of midwifery practice Evidence based practice and learning Course Plan The course consists of 45 programmed weeks per year with seven weeks annual leave allocated by the course team. There are nine modules of 40 credits each: Modules 1, 2 and 3 are during year one of the course and are at HE Level 4. Modules 4, 5, and 6 are over year two of the course at HE Level 5 Modules 7, 8 and 9 are at HE Level 6 during the third year of the course. Both the theory and clinical components of each module have to be successfully completed in order to progress on the course. The course has a 50% theory and 50% practice component. The first theory component in Module 1 will be in a 'block' of four weeks, which will enable the development of group cohesion. The subsequent theory study weeks will be alternated by two weeks practice i.e. one week theory study followed by two weeks practice. Student practice assessment will be via a portfolio, which will include: NMC Essential Skills Clusters (ESC), the placement records and OSCE completion records. Students will be encouraged to demonstrate appropriate attitudes and behaviour towards the woman, her baby and family. These behaviours will be assessed by what are referred to as "Professional Attitude Scales". Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE's) are assessed in the skills laboratories by mentors and midwifery lecturers. OSCE’s are summative assessment in which students are expected to perform and successfully complete a variety of clinical tasks within a specific time frame against specific criteria. At the end of the course, if successful, the student will have gathered a portfolio to demonstrate achievement of the NMC's standards of proficiency and enable entry to the NMC's Register as a midwife. Towards the end of the second and during the third year of the course there will be a period of supervised practice where the student will manage a small integrated caseload under mentor supervision and be expected to participate in providing continuity of carer to those women selected by the mentor to constitute the student caseload. User and service representatives will be invited to the student group EBL presentations and encouraged to interact with the students.