Midwifery and Women's Health BSc (Hons)

About the course

The BSc(Hons) Midwifery and Women’s Health is a post-registration midwifery course that reflects the contemporary education and practice requirements of the midwifery profession. It incorporates growing public awareness of the importance of health promotion and psychosocial well-being as well as changes to the pre-registration preparation of midwives.

This post-registration midwifery course is suitable for registered midwives who are looking into extending their educational qualifications from diploma level to first degree level. It is also suitable for registered midwifes who have not studied at all for some time. The key benefit of BSc(Hons) Midwifery and Women’s Health course is that you can still develop your skills and knowledge while continuing to work and earn.

You will learn from the best as our Midwifery team has won the prestigious Royal College of Midwives Annual Award for Excellence in Midwifery Education in January 2012. This success is due to the expertise of our staff and the content of our course which gives students the opportunity to combine theory with practice through the practice placements.

Course structure

The BSc(Hons) Midwifery and Women’s Health course is modular in structure and you can choose to study for stand alone modules only or gain credits towards a Bachelor’s degree. If you choose to study towards a BSc(Hons) Midwifery and Women’s Health degree you need to collect 120 credits.

Below is a list of modules and credits that you could choose to study:

Compulsory modules:

• Research for practice development (15 credits**)

This module needs to be taken only when you want to obtain a BSc degree

Optional modules:

• Complex social issues in maternity care (30 credits)
• Fundamentals and philosophies of statutory supervision of midwives 1 (30 credits)
• High dependency midwifery care (30 credits)
• Leading and advancing the practices of statutory supervision of midwives 2 (30 credits)
• Physical examination of the healthy neonate (30 credits)
• Preparation for mentorship (15 credits)
• Return to contemporary midwifery practice (15 credits)
• Theory and practice of contraception and sexual health (30 credits)

View the Midwifery and Women’s Health Brochure

For more information about the course please contact Sue Carr 

Why choose this course?

• The BSc Midwifery and Women’s Health course is for registered midwives who want to extend their educational qualifications from diploma level to Bachelor’s degree level
• It reflects the contemporary education and practice requirements of the midwifery profession
• It gives you the option to study stand alone courses or gain credits towards a Bachelor’s degree
• Our Midwifery team has won the prestigious Royal College of Midwives Annual Award for Excellence in Midwifery Education in January 2012

Study routes

• Part Time,
• Part Time, 2 Years
• Part Time, 5 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

This post-registration course in Midwifery meets the on-going professional development needs of qualified midwives, incorporating a range of theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in line with the changing needs of contemporary midwifery practice.

They help midwives with giving them skills for enhanced or new roles such as the ability to do initial examinations in newborns, the ability to practice in family planning clinics and other.

Graduates from the BSc(Hons) Midwifery and Women’s Health course can progress to theMSc(Hons) Midwifery and Women’s Health course.

Teaching methods

The BSc Midwifery and Women’s Health course is delivered via a blend of adult learning approaches, which ensure that you develop your critical analytical abilities to enable you to respond to the dynamic practice environment.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

Optional

• Empowering Midwives in Normal Midwifery Practice

  This module is designed to provide midwives with the opportunity to critically reflect on their personal practice and to explore the barriers within their working environment which inhibit the provision of women centred midwifery care. The professional and legislative context within which practice is immersed will provide a framework for the direction of this module. Leadership qualities will be explored in terms of development of team-working, negotiation and delegation skills. This will result in the midwife examining strategies for conflict resolution and help her to support women to achieve an optimal birth experience in an environment of trust.

• Leadership Skills

  This module is aimed at health care professionals who have responsibilities for leading and developing teams and practice delivery. An emphasis will be placed on effectively developing the student's leadership skills, knowledge and expertise. Students will be facilitated to undertake self assessment of their leadership skills and develop a personal development plan reflecting their skills need analysis. Theory and skills will be integrated using both a reflective and evidence based approach. A variety of classroom based strategies will be used, with a focus on experiential and problem based learning, facilitating an interactive approach to learning.

• Nutritional Wellbeing in Pregnancy

  This Module provides the opportunity for midwives to explore and address the recommendations and implications of the CMACE report in relation to achieving optimum maternal nutritional health. The module aims to enable students to evaluate the role and work collaboratively with other multidisciplinary teams and agencies. In addition, it is envisaged that midwives will be able to develop their knowledge and skills to assess, plan and implement individualised care that is evidence based to promote optimal nutritional health and wellbeing for childbearing women. Topics explored will cover these principles, including the psychological meaning of food, including beliefs and values associated with eating habits, the cultural impact of food and diet. The politics of food and sociological meaning of food will be addressed in addition to the historical context of dietetics, including the development of eating habits, post war influences on diet and dietary habits. The issue of body image will be examined and dietetics and nutritional wellbeing in relation to health promotion will be explored. Relevant physiology to support evidence-based practice in addition to the psychological and sociological approach to nutrition will be included.

• Physical Examination of the Healthy Neonate

  Students will explore in depth the behavioural, psychological and physical attributes of the newborn. Although particular emphasis is placed upon the cardio-vascular and respiratory systems an holistic approach to the examination is taught and expected to be adopted by students. The research evidence base for the examination of the newborn is interrelated to the practice skills being developed, with oral feedback provided from mentors, lecturers and paediatricians who supervise the skills development in the placement. Reflective practice skills are honed and related to the implications for professional responsibility and accountability of undertaking new roles and expanding the scope of midwifery practice.

• Preparation for Mentorship

  By examining mentorship in the context of work placed learning, the module will offer students an opportunity to become stage 2 mentors to learners studying a range of health and social care topics and programmes in accordance with professional standards. The module will draw upon the student's teaching and learning experiences as a stage 1 mentor, to develop their professional expectation and responsibilities with theoretical perspectives associated with the role. This scrutiny will include work placed learning activities and taught sessions relating to the 8 domains from the NMC Standards to support learning and assessment in practice (2008) that are associated with the mentor's role. The module will address strategies to support learners from an interprofessional dimension that will promote and facilitate ongoing assessment in the practice setting. The module aims to prepare mentors for triennial review and ongoing continuous professional development.

• Preparation for Mentorship Distance/Blended Option

  By examining mentorship in the context of work placed learning, the module will offer students an opportunity to become stage 2 mentors to learners studying a range of health and social care topics and programmes in accordance with professional standards. The module will draw upon the student's teaching and learning experiences as a stage 1 mentor, to develop their professional expectation and responsibilities with theoretical perspectives associated with the role. This scrutiny will include work placed learning activities and taught sessions relating to the 8 domains from the NMC Standards to support learning and assessment in practice (2008) that are associated with the mentor's role. The module will address strategies to support learners from an interprofessional dimension that will promote and facilitate ongoing assessment in the practice setting. The module aims to prepare mentors for triennial review and ongoing continuous professional development.

• Research for Practice Development

  This module is designed for health and community care practitioners wishing to further develop their knowledge of the research process, and acquire an understanding of how such knowledge could enhance practice within their clinical area. The module covers both philosophical and practical aspects of research and encourages learners to reflect on their role in the research process. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of how research designs; methodologies; methods of data collection and analysis can be ethically and professionally employed within their respective areas of practice.

• Return To Contemporary Midwifery

  This module is designed for qualified Midwives whose registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council has lapsed, or for those whose registration is currently active, but require an update in-order to re-enter professional practice with the skills, knowledge and competence required to maintain safe standards of care. Thus, the role and responsibilities of the midwife and the factors that influence the provision of midwifery services is highlighted and discussed. Contemporary evidence and practice are explored in-order to enable the returning midwife to reflect on their past and present experiences. This module will also enable the Midwife to return to the pathway of lifelong professional development and learning.

• The Theory and Practice of Contraception within Sexual Health Care

  This module is designed to enable the participants to apply theoretical concepts to the practice of contraception and reproductive sexual health. Participants will be facilitated to observe, discuss and participate in client care in both general practice and community clinics, as these are available.

• Work Based Learning

  This module is primarily aimed at health care professionals who wish to develop an aspect clinical practice in order to enhance care for clients and those supporting them. It is envisaged that students will be working towards developing a specific aspect of practice. It is designed to develop skills in evaluating the current care provision, reviewing the evidence which supports the practice and developing a plan for developing care to the satisfaction of the intended clients. Students will develop skills in evaluation, literature searching, project management, and decision making and team working.

Fees & funding

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

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Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply