School of Nursing, Midwifery and Interprofessional Studies
The School team presently enjoy supporting approximately 800 full and part time students studying Foundation Degrees, Diplomas, Honours degrees, Continued Professional Development (CPD) and postgraduate awards. To support these programmes we have 40 academic staff based in Ipswich and the region, each having extensive expertise and qualifications. The majority of the team hold professional registration either with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or the Health Professions Council (HPC), in addition to being qualified lecturers in higher education and holding postgraduate and doctoral qualifications. The Head of School, Carol Smith is supported by two Programme Area Directors: Dr Jane Day (Interprofessional Studies and Midwifery) and Bob Payne (Pre Registration Nursing). Click here to see the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Interprofessional Studies Staff Profiles.|
The School has very strong partnership links with practice across all health fields, this includes the NHS, private, statutory and voluntary sectors and in addition works in close liaison with the UCS School of Health, Science and Social Care|, with for example, a vibrant Service User Forum, Interprofessional Learning programme and CPD and post registration provision.
Pre Registration Nursing consists of BSc (Hons) and DipHE programmes that lead to an academic award and eligibility to register with the NMC in the areas of Child Health, Mental Health and Adult Nursing. Each of these has a strong focus on practice with 50% of the course spent in practice settings, across the county and sometimes beyond. Teaching is combined at Ipswich with additional sites in Great Yarmouth and Bury St Edmunds.
The Programme Area Interprofessional Studies and Midwifery offers a range of provision from foundation degrees through to master's programmes. Work based learning is an integral aspect of all the programmes that we offer.
We offer a well established three year BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme for those wishing to study to practice as a midwife, which offers student's placements across the region. In addition, for those already qualified as a nurse and wishing to become a midwife we offer the BSc (Hons) Midwifery Shortened programme. Both programmes lead eligibility to register with the NMC.
The School also prepares nurses and midwives for their role as mentors for pre registration students, offering the Preparation for Mentorship programme. The UCS mentorship strategy, supporting mentors of pre-registration nursing and midwifery students in practice, has been put forward by the NMC as 'Best Practice - of National Importance', with many initiatives being described as 'excellent' at the recent NMC review (2010).
For those working in the health care setting, as non professional staff, and who wish to extend their knowledge and skills we provide a range of foundation degrees in health care practice including mental health, acute and long-term care, end of life, maternity care, rehabilitation, public health practice and continuing care. A foundation degree in health sciences for those wishing to train as an assistant practitioner in diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy and oncology and a foundation degree in health administration are also offered.
For those students wishing to continue their education beyond a first degree we offer three master's programmes; education, clinical practice and leadership and innovation. These programmes are all practice focussed and have elements of work based learning within them.
Students who have an interest in health and wellbeing and wish or are already working within the health agenda can study the BSc (Hons) Health and Wellbeing programme.
We welcome new and continuing students to the School and hope that our contemporary approach to education using a range of cutting edge technological for example the virtual learning environment is used across all modules in a variety of ways including enabling communication, the delivery of e-content and discursive based distance learning. Video and audio podcasts are an integral aspect of many courses enabling students to learn at anytime and from anywhere. At the recent NMC annual review (2010) considering provision for midwifery and children's nursing programmes, the use of Virtual Learning Environment was singled out as being 'good practice'.
The School offers exciting, innovative and contemporary courses ensuring that students are prepared to face the change and challenges of the 21st Century.