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Nursing: Advanced Practice Midwifery (MSc)

MSc (Advanced Practice Midwifery)

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Course Overview

The aims of the Master of Science in Midwifery (Advanced Practice Midwifery) programme are to enable experienced registered midwives to develop an expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills, and clinical competencies for an expanded autonomous scope of practice. The finite characteristics are shaped by the: context in which the individual practices; the needs of women and people; and the challenges and developments within the health services. 

The programme is designed to prepare the students as advanced autonomous practitioners, who are clinically competent and skilled in the delivery of high quality direct care to specific women/client group. In particular, the Advanced Midwife Practitioner will promote wellness, offer healthcare interventions and advocate healthy lifestyle choices for women/people, their families and carers in a wide variety of settings in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, according to agreed scope of practice guidelines.   

The programme further aims to support the students to expand their role as autonomous members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team within the healthcare organisation and professional leaders in their field of specialist practice. The graduates, equipped with such knowledge and advanced skills will be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for registration as a Registered Advanced Midwife Practitioner (RAMP).  

This broad based 2 year MSc includes modules pertaining to nurse and midwife prescribing, research, advanced practice and management. In addition, there are 2 clinical competency assessment modules – 96 hours pertaining to prescribing and 500 hours to advanced practice clinical mentorship. 

Scholarships available 
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here. 

Applications and Selections

Please note the application portal for this particular course is currently open and will remain open until 30th June 2024. Applications for September 2024 intake will be accepted during these dates. Please note no applications will be accepted after this date.  

Applicants will be reviewed in tranches and you will be communicated with in due course on receipt of your completed application. Earlier and fully completed applications will be prioritised.  

Please ensure you have all requirements for your application as incomplete applications will not be considered. For reconsideration, applicants will have to reapply incurring reapplication costs. 

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System. 

Who Teaches this Course

See the full staff list here. 

researcher
Dr Linda Biesty
M.Sc. B.Sc. PgDip
Senior Lecturer
School of Nursing and Midwifery
NUI Galway
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researcher
Ms Catherine Meagher
RGN,RM,RNT,BNS, MSC
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researcher
Dr Maura Dowling
MSc,BNs,RNT,RGN,RM Cert Oncology,PhD
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researcher
Dr Catherine Houghton
RGN, RSCN, RN, HDip, MHSc, PhD.
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researcher
Dr. Fionnuala Jordan
RPN, PG.Dip.,PhD
Lecturer Above The Bar
T: 019- 493818
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Requirements and Assessment

Students are assessed using a variety of methodologies including MCQ, OSCE, Assignment, Portfolio, Case Study.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Please note to be eligible to apply you need to: 

  1. Be registered as a midwife on the register of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI); 
  2. Have a minimum of an honours primary degree in Midwifery or equivalent 
  3. Be currently employed as a nurse or midwife and in the areas of practice that you plan to undertake your Advance Practice Programme 
  4. Have support of both a Professional (DOM/N, ADOM/N/Practice Manager) and Clinical (medical consultant or general practitioner) Mentor for 500 hours of clinical mentorship, evidenced by a completed Site Declaration Form 
     
  5. Written commitment/memo of understanding or equivalent from the Director of Midwifery to support the student during the clinical practicum and to nominate a suitably qualified practitioner to act as a clinical supervisor during the student's clinical learning experience 
     
  6. Comply with current minimum entry requirements for admission to the programme of education for midwife prescribing. This includes:  
  • Have a minimum of three years’ recent post-registration clinical experience in nursing or midwifery (within the last five years)  
  • Have equivalent of ‘one year’ full time experience in the specific area of clinical practice that you will beprescribing and practicing in 
  • Possess the competencies recognised at Level 8 of the National Framework of Qualifications; 
  • Provide evidence of having undertaken continuing professional education; 
  • Have support of both a Professional (DOM/N, ADOM/N/Practice Manager) and Clinical (medical consultant or general practitioner) Mentor for 96 hours of clinical mentorship, evidenced by a completed Site Declaration Form. 

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

25

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

No set closing date. Offers are made on a continuous basis.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

110

Award

CAO

Course code

MSC-MWAPN

Course Outline

Curriculum information is below.  

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.

Year 1 (40 Credits)

Required NU6507: Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Overview of health care system and structure, developments and funding; analysis of health policies, structures and governance systems, and their implications for practice. Overview of the policy process. Strategies for planning service provision, implementing changes in practice, quality improvement. The role of evidence based practice, accreditation, regulation in quality improvement and patient safety. Clinical and professional development issues; leadership and management frameworks, which focus on the development of the Advanced Practice role nationally and internationally. Collaboration, communication, working in groups and team building in health care, and issues influencing the reality of working in an advanced practice role. The module introduces and further develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes of healthcare professionals in the context of clinical governance with specific emphases on leadership theory and skills, inter-organisational partnership principles and frameworks, the concepts of participation and principles of collaboration, team building and understanding individual and organisational change and how to implement change successfully. Students explore motivational models, performance appraisal systems and approaches to managing conflict.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Critically evaluate current developments in the Irish health case with a focus on Advanced Nurse Practice (ANP)
  2. Analyse the impact of international and national policy and policy formation on health service current and future provision
  3. Analyse and critically compare frameworks for partnership, quality and governance in different health care contexts including role change and collaborative practice
  4. Critically compare and contrast different leadership and management theories and apply these to practice settings.
  5. Evaluate quality improvement models and strategies and their application to effective management and quality improvement at individual and organisational levels
  6. Critically appraise the implementation and evaluation of different approaches, which enhance the professional development of one-self and others in nursing practice.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6507: "Leadership, Quality Improvement and Governance" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU6610: Decision Making and Advanced Practice Professional Roles


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Content covered will include case management; clinical decision-making; standards of care; ethics; cultural competence; person centred care. Advanced Practice role development; professional issues; theoretical perspectives informing advanced practice roles; and self-management (time and stress management). Contemporary issues in health care; the future of health service delivery. Opportunities will be provided to explore issues related to case management, major pathophysiologic disease processes as applied to clinical decision-making, and standards of care, ethics and role development. Research related to these topics will be used to highlight the changing nature of heath care. Analysis of the role of the advanced nurse practitioner will be emphasised. Within the clinical environment, candidates will expand clinical decision-making abilities and practice advanced, complex, case management under the supervision of a designated clinical supervisor. The theoretical component of this module is applied in clinical practice.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Design case management algorithms combining quality assurance standards, evidence based practice, and clinical guidelines to support decision analysis.
  2. Integrate advanced pathology and pathophysiology in diagnostic reasoning and case management.
  3. Apply advanced health assessment and communication techniques in decision-making processes.
  4. Evaluate external stimuli that determine direction of the advanced nurse practitioner role in the delivery of quality patient care.
  5. Explore the use of an evidence-based evaluation framework in the context of the advanced nurse practitioner role.
  6. Appraise the professional role of the advanced nurse practitioner combining a nursing framework with standards of practice.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6610: "Decision Making and Advanced Practice Professional Roles" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU6312: Advanced Health Assessment


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to obtain a comprehensive health history and complete a physical assessment on a patient in the clinical setting.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate the ability to review a patient’s health history
  2. Demonstrate clinical competence in physical assessment skills
  3. Critically analyse patient data and prioritise patient problems
  4. Explicate nursing interventions that meet the individual patient’s needs
  5. Integrate appropriate consultation skills with the patient and the multidisciplinary team for effective case management
Assessments
  • Department-based Assessment (90%)
  • Computer-based Assessment (10%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6312: "Advanced Health Assessment" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU502: Advanced Research Methods


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

. This module is designed to enable students to explore the methodological and practical issues of research. It will help students determine the appropriate research design for research questions in their practice and provides an opportunity for students to debate, challenge and clarify research issues. This module will also help students understand the systematic review process and types of reviews, Finally, the module prepares students to develop a research protocol
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by ‘evidence-based practice’
  2. Discuss theoretical perspectives on research methodology
  3. Formulate an answerable clinical question using the PICO approach
  4. Develop a database search strategy
  5. Explain clearly the key characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the main qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
  6. Articulate a research problem and formulate a research question or hypothesis as appropriate to guide the conduct of a study
  7. Justify the use of appropriate data collection, sampling, and data analysis methods for qualitative and quantitative research
  8. Discuss rigour in the context of quantitative and qualitative research
  9. Discuss evidence synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research
  10. Create a plan with clear rationales for data collection, sampling, data analysis and rigour to be used when conducting a primary qualitative or quantitative study or evidence synthesis
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU502: "Advanced Research Methods" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL010: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL010: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL020: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 20

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL020: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL030: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL030: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Year 2 (70 Credits)

Required NU010.I: Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing)


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

The Certificate in Nursing (Nurse/Midwife Prescribing), Minor Award, is at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This six month programme is aimed at nurses and midwives working in the public, voluntary or private sectors. The programme aims to prepare nurses to prescribe safely, appropriately, cost effectively, legally and ethically. To increase programme accessibility, the programme will be delivered using blended learning. Blended learning will combine face-to-face teaching and facilitated on-line learning.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand and comply with the regulatory framework associated with medicinal product prescribing.
  2. Use evidence based knowledge to support their prescribing practice.
  3. Apply ethical principles and concepts in their prescribing practice.
  4. Analyse and form judgements on how to respond to ethical issues that may arise in practice.
  5. Undertake effective consultation with clients including appropriate history taking and assessment to inform diagnosis and prescribing practice.
  6. Demonstrate a client centred approach in their practice, emphasising personal choice and responsibility in line with best practice.
  7. Analyse and respond effectively to the factors that influence clients’ decision-making in respect to treatment regimes.
  8. Establish a support network, for example pharmacists, consultants or others, to support their prescribing practice.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU010.I: "Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing)" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU6506: Clinical Practicum


Semester 2 | Credits: 20

Knowledge, competencies and clinical skills for advanced practice in nursing relevant to the specific practice area of the student. Specific knowledge and skills requirements will be negotiated on an individual practice area basis with the student their clinical supervisor and their employer/nurse manager within the framework and structure of the course record and assessment booklet. The major element of the programme will be substantial hours – 500 hours on clinical placement with supervision (as agreed under the site declaration form)..Students practice hours focus on developing expertise in defined areas/pathways for example: 1) Chronic disease management 2) Oncology 3) Older person care 4) Unscheduled care 5) Women's health 6) Mental health 7) Intellectual disability 8) Primary healthcare 9) Acute healthcare 10) Children's services 11) Dermatology.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Integrate relevant knowledge and skills in the conduction of a comprehensive holistic assessment of patients/clients, and manage identified issues/needs at an advanced level within their practice area (or identified scope of practice).
  2. Use evidence based frameworks, to synthesise and interpret assessment information to identify normal, subnormal and at risk states of health.
  3. Determine the timely use of diagnostic investigations to inform clinical decision making when planning, delivering and evaluating person centred care
  4. Actively consider access, cost, clinical effectiveness when planning, delivering and evaluating care.
  5. Apply knowledge of therapeutic interventions including pharmacological and non-pharmacological nursing interventions relevant to their advanced practice area
  6. Critically reflect on their own and others' learning and practice.
  7. Maximise opportunities to educate, mentor, role model and facilitate clinical supervision, on-going reflection, and engagement in continuous professional development.
  8. Incorporate effective leadership and communication skills when interacting with interprofessional health care teams in the development, implementation and evaluation of care and services in their area of practice.
  9. Evaluate the provision of care and services pertaining to their area of practice and reflect on feedback received to identify gaps in provision of care and services pertaining to area of practice
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6506: "Clinical Practicum " and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU6515: Research Dissertation


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Students will be required to undertake a piece of primary research or an evidence synthesis on a topic relevant to their practice area. Students will be assigned a research supervisor who will support them in undertaking this work.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrated knowledge of ethical requirements and procedures by negotiating access to research site/participants by securing ethical approval from the appropriate Research Ethics Committee in the case of primary research. Or in the case of evidence synthesis/secondary data analysis, demonstrate knowledge in the process of negotiating access to full text data not available in the library databases.
  2. Developed a research question(s) of significance to area of of significance to their specialist nursing/midwifery professional practice or a problem statement(s) based on a review of evidence-based literature.
  3. Identified and apply an appropriate method(s) to achieve the objectives of the research question (s)/ hypothesis for primary data collection, or in the case of secondary data analysis, employ valid and reliable method(s) for processing and analysing archived research data
  4. Critically discuss research findings with reference to the methods used, current literature and professional practice.
  5. Prepared a scholarly report (Option A) research article (Option B) ready for publication which will demonstrate accurate expression, analysis, and synthesis of the research subject.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU6515: "Research Dissertation" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Required NU1191: Pharmacology, Health and Medicinal Prescribing


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Welcome to this module entitled “Drugs, Patients and Illnesses”. As the title suggests, this module will focus on the pharmacological treatment of patients. It will take you from the basic principles of how drugs work and how the body deals with drugs, through to the application of these principles to commonly encountered drugs used in a range of clinical applications. Moreover, the challenges of patient variability in drug response, polypharmacy and risk and cost benefit assessments will be explored. The module provides opportunities for you to be able to apply knowledge to your own clinical setting.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Possess a firm understanding of the fundamental concepts of Pharmacology.
  2. Use the autonomic nervous system to illustrate the mechanisms of drug action.
  3. Identify the composite features of the “pharmacology” of a drug, and apply these in their work setting.
  4. Describe the pharmacological approach to a range of diseases and conditions.
  5. Be aware of the issues surrounding the pharmacological treatment of individual patients and their illness.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module NU1191: "Pharmacology, Health and Medicinal Prescribing" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL010: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL010: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL020: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 20

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL020: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional RPL030: Recognised Prior Learning


Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 30

Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
The above information outlines module RPL030: "Recognised Prior Learning " and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Students who successfully complete this programme are eligible to apply to the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for register as an Advanced Midwife Practitioner (RAMP). 

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,555 p.a. (including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€6,450 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€105 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€14,500 p.a. (€14,605 p.a. including levy) 2024/25

Find out More

Ms Heather Helen 

Programme Director 

T: +353 91 495601 

E: heather.helen@univeristyofgalway.ie 

www.universityofgalway.ie/medicine-nursing-and-health-sciences/nursing/ 

 

 

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