Nurse and midwife programme content and placements

 

Undergraduate programmes in nursing and midwifery aim to provide students with both the academic and practical learning needed to be an effective nurse of midwife. You will gain theoretical, clinical, ethical and intercultural knowledge necessary to develop your career in nursing or midwifery.

The content of these programmes is governed by standards and requirements which are set down by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). If you’re interested in the details of such programmes, you should check out the Education section of the website. All standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery programmes are published in that section.

The Education Bodies (EBs) are all involved in groundbreaking research in specific areas of nursing or midwifery. Some students get a chance to participate in this research during the course of their programmes.

Placements

Nursing and midwifery students get a chance to apply some of what they have learned when they do their clinical assessment or internship. The first clinical placement occurs early in the programme, usually within three months of commencement. 

A continual 36 week rostered clinical placement or internship takes place during the fourth year. Depending on the programme, students will get opportunities to learn in practice in a variety of health care settings such as:

• Medical or surgical wards
• Accident and Emergency Departments
• Operating theatres
• Intensive Care Units
• Coronary Care Units
• Out Patients Departments
• Community health centres

This internship usually attracts some payment to the student. NMBI has no role in the payments paid to students, or indeed, to nurses or midwives.

Medical assessment

Nursing and midwifery are demanding professions, both physically and emotionally. A successful applicant must be of good mental and physical health; and have the ability to achieve the required competencies of a nurse / midwife.

Applicants will be required to complete a medical assessment self-declaration form and undergo a medical assessment, screening and vaccination programme as determined by the Education Body and the health care agency.

Satisfactory completion of these or other health requirements will be necessary to commence / continue with the programme.