Welcome to your Midwifery course

Hello and welcome! We are excited that you will be joining us at Staffordshire University for the Midwifery course soon. We will share some important information to help you get ready for your journey through the course with us.

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Michelle Mckay

Senior Lecturer

I’m a Midwifery Lecturer, with a background as a practice educator and rotational midwife.

Michelle's profile

Ruth Leftwich

Lecturer

First activity

The first week of your course (23rd September 2024) focuses on welcome activities, designed to help you settle in. Meet the team, including your Course lead, Course director, members of the School Management Team, your academic mentor and become familiar with the campus. In addition, there will be opportunity to have an introduction to the simmersive rooms, to study skills and orientation to the library.

This initial week will provide you with information to enable a smooth transition to your university journey towards this exciting career ahead of you.

Course delivery

The Midwifery department provides its learners with excellent learning environments and resources. Learners have access to cutting-edge clinical skills facilities and enhanced learning, social, and recreational spaces.

The immersive simulation suite offers a diverse array of learning opportunities by replicating various healthcare environments and scenarios.

Sessions can be delivered in several formats including:

  • Lead lectures, keynote lectures – this may include guest speakers
  • Clinical skills training
  • Problem based learning (PBL)
  • Development and presentation of student led seminars
  • Group work
  • Directed study
  • Online scheduled activities via a virtual learning environment (BlackBoard)
  • Inter-professional learning

In addition, learners are expected to utilise online drugs calculation software to refine their proficiency in drug administration and numeracy skills.

You will develop as an independent critical thinker through the use of enquiry-based learning and flipped classroom techniques.

We pride ourselves on the variety of assessments, encompassing essays, exams, practical tasks, research projects, case analyses, presentations, seminars, reflections, formative blended learning exercises, and online collaborations, serve both formative and summative purposes.

The course is 50% theory and 50% practical so your time will be split between University and Placement. You will be required to work unsociable hours in practice. Theory time is between 9-5pm

Semester one activities

One of the first activities you will participate in will be to meet your fellow students and your academic mentor. Your academic mentor will support you through your course helping you to achieve your goals and make the most out of your time at Staffordshire University, ensuring you achieve your maximum potential.

You will spend some time during your first week getting to know your fellow students as well as familiarising yourself with the University, its services and your course, and you will start to understand the role of other health professionals through interprofessional learning.

Pre-Learning

Browse our recommended pre-course reading and ensure you have basic knowledge around anatomy and physiology (A&P) of the human body systems.

Explore the Nursing and Midwifery Council website in particular ‘The Code’.

  • Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code. Available from: nmc-code.pdf
  • Explore the NMC website to increase your knowledge around the NMC.
  • Coad, J. (2019). Anatomy and Physiology for Midwives (4thEd). London: Elsevier.

An essential book for Midwifery related A&P.

Either of the following books as they contain similar content:

  • Marshall, J. and Raynor. M. (2020) Myles Textbook for Midwives.(17thed).Edinburgh: Elsevier.Macdonald, S. and Johnson. G.(2023).Mayes Midwifery.(16thed).Edinburgh: Elsevier.
  • Macdonald, S. and Johnson. G.(2023).Mayes Midwifery.(16thed).Edinburgh: Elsevier.
  • Baston, H., Hall, J. and Samples, J. (2021). Midwifery Essentials: Medical Conditions. Edinburgh: Elsevier.

This is an easy-to-read book for Midwifery essentials.

Equipment and software

A lap-top computer is advised so you can take notes during taught sessions and write your assignments. Digital software, for example Microsoft 365 pro, is available for free download during your time on the course and is useful for all areas of the course, offering cloud storage for your assignments so you can access them from any device and Outlook for email communication.

Software link: https://staffsuniversity.sharepoint.com/sites/software/SitePages/Home.aspx

Groups and societies

The University has its own student led Midwifery Society who you will meet in the first week and have the opportunity to join.

Student uniform

You will be provided with a uniform to wear during placements and practical skills sessions. However, you will need to source suitable footwear to go with your uniform, advice will be provided on this during our welcome activities where we will also guide you through the uniform ordering process.

For further information please click here

Occupational Health

Before you go into our clinical practice learning environments you will be required to be cleared by our Occupational Health provider: Optima Health and be up to date with all required vaccinations. You will be required to complete an occupational health screening survey and it is very important that you are open and honest with any existing or past medical history to ensure your health, safety and wellbeing whilst on the course. Please Click Here for further information.

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Campus map

Use our campus map to familiarise yourself with our campus before you arrive.

Campus map (PDF)

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

We look forward to welcoming you in September.

If you have any questions, please send them to your Course Leader: Michelle McKay, michelle.mckay@staffs.ac.uk

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