Midwifery Education Centre
Higher Diploma in Midwifery
The Higher Diploma in Midwifery is an 18 month programme for registered general nurses. Upon successful completion of the programme students are eligible for registration as a midwife (RM) with An Bord Altranais and are awarded a Higher Diploma in Midwifery from University of Dublin Trinity College (TCD).
The duration of the programme is 78 weeks, comprising of 52 weeks midwifery practice and 26 weeks theory interspersed throughout the 18 months. The delivery of the classroom content of the programme is mainly in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, D’Olier Street, the Trinity Centre, St. James’s Hospital and Trinity’s main campus at College Green.
Students obtain their clinical education and experience in the Rotunda Hospital and rotate between all the clinical areas. Details of the allocation to each area are documented in the Requirements and Standards for the Midwife Registration Education Programme (January 2007) available from An Bord Altranais, www.nursingboard.ie
Assessment during the programme includes practical and written examinations and assignments. Midwifery skills and competencies are assessed throughout the programme during the clinical placements.
Participants are employees of the Rotunda Hospital and students of the University of Dublin Trinity College for the duration of the programme. University fees are paid by the Department of Health. Successful candidates are required to register for admission to Trinity College through the Postgraduate Application Centre.
The next Higher Diploma in Midwifery Education programme intake will be in March 2024; informal enquiries to Mags Campion, mcampion@rotunda.ie
Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (Pre-Registration Midwifery)
The Bachelor of Science in Midwifery is a four year honours degree programme and on successful completion of the programme, students will be eligible to register as midwives. Applications are made through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Mature entrants are required to contact the Nursing and Midwifery Careers Centre at An Bord Altranais or visit their website www.nursingboard.ie
The delivery of the classroom content of the programme is mainly in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, D’Olier Street, the Trinity Centre, St. James’s Hospital and Trinity’s main campus at College Green. Further information can be obtained from Trinity College Dublin www.nursing-midwifery.tcd.ie.
Students while on clinical placement in the Rotunda Hospital are supernumerary and students of the University of Dublin, Trinity College for the first 3 years of the programme. During the last 36 weeks of the programme students are employees of the Rotunda Hospital as part of the internship component as set by the Department of Health. All midwifery students attending the Rotunda Hospital are supported by the practice development team in addition to the support of a named midwife preceptor in the designated clinical area.
Practice Development Unit
Practice development plays a proactive role in empowering and motivating midwifery and nursing staff to maintain consistently high care standards through the application of specialist knowledge, implementation of best practice, and provision of support for practice-based education and continuing professional development.
Supporting staff through access to education and research opportunities enhances their knowledge and promotes the use of current, evidence based practice which helps provide a quality patient service. Through our collaboration with Trinity College Dublin and the Centre of Midwifery Education based at the Coombe Hospital, the team continually offers and supports ongoing development opportunities.
In addition to the midwifery students undertaking the programmes identified above, student nurses undertaking a clinical placement for the obstetric module also attend, along with students to the neonatal unit as part of the integrated general nursing and paediatric programme. Student public health nurses also attend for their maternity module. We also run a number of courses throughout the year for the registered midwives and nurses working in the hospital.