Midwifery: Registered Midwife

BSc (Hons) Midwifery: Registered Midwife
Mode: full-time

A midwife gives care to childbearing women and their families in an ever changing society. Today's midwife must be responsive to the socio-economic, cultural, educational, physical and psychological needs of women.

A midwife is the only professional whose education and practice is solely concerned with the health and welfare of pregnant women and their babies and the process of childbearing. They have a sphere of practice defined in statute and are accountable for their practice.

They provide a vital caring service to the community during the important life changing event of childbirth and have a wider role in the public health and sexual health within the primary and secondary care settings.

The programme is 50% in practice and 50% in theory settings.

Students have designated self directed learning time within the programme. 3 shifts per week will be spent in clinical practice and will involve weekend and evening work from week 5 of the programme.

Placements are in all midwifery settings, community and hospital based, as well as relevant learning experiences in other non-midwifery placements which include NHS Direct, medical wards, mental health care, theatres and gynaecology.

Students are based at four hospital sites and related community sites for practice experience and all come together for study days. Study days may be held at any of the University education sites in Bedford, Butterfield (Luton), Aylesbury, or at the Luton campus, Park Square, Luton town centre.

Why choose this course?

• Students say: "Lecturers are fantastic, give individual support and the course i life-changing."
• Culturally diverse student body
• Opportunity to experience a range of practice areas, from hi-tech, nationally acclaimed units to supported home births
• State-of-the-art education facilities

Career Opportunities

Working as a midwife in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals, the community and birth centres.

Further opportunities to advance in clinical practice in many varied specific roles from Sure Start, HIV specialist, Teenage pregnancy, infant feeding or ultrasound specialist midwives as well as midwifery consultants.

Research, management, higher education and independent midwifery opportunities are available.

Midwives may develop their public health role by becoming Health Visitors or specialise in neonatal care.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

Students are encouraged to develop the full range of skills required by the midwife facilitated by an innovative range of teaching and learning methods including, practice scenarios, small group work, student led seminars, case study, reflection on practice and lecturer led tutorials.

Assessment

The programme consists of modules that build on each other and therefore have to be taken in sequence. The theory relates to the practice experiences gained at that time. We value practice learning and achievement and each module has a theory and practice assessment.

An assessor using a criterion reference grid completes the practice assessments in practice.

A range of innovative assessments are used in theory to include examinations, viva's, reflective essays, presentations, seminars and health promotion activities.

Dissertation/project and research

The dissertation is undertaken in the final year of the programme. You will be asked to undertake an extensive piece of work to show your skills of critical analysis and your ability to appraise evidence from a range of sources.

Recommended reading

• Henderson C, Macdonald S (eds.) 2004 Mayes' Midwifery: a textbook for midwives, 13th Edition, London, Bailliere Tindall
• Fraser D, Cooper M (eds.) 2003 Myles' Textbook for Midwives, 14th Edition, London, Churchill Livingstone

Entry requirements

• Five GCSEs grades A-C, to include an English, Maths and a Science Subject AND
• 220 UCAS tariff points this must include at least two ‘A’ Levels or their equivalent OR
• Access to Healthcare and Social Studies Programmes (with at least 80% passes at level 3 AND
• Evidence of recent study which includes written assessment

Special entry requirements

Applicants who are selected are offered an interview. On the panel will normally be a practising midwife and a midwife lecturer.

After interview candidates are offered places subject to successful:

• occupational health clearance
• Criminal Record Bureaux police check
• Evidence of relevant educational qualifications.