BSc (Hons) Midwifery course preparation
To help you feel prepared for your BSc (Hons) Midwifery course we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Read on to find out more.
Pre-course events
If you were unable to attend the events in July and September, you can view the welcome presentation and the the finance presentation online. You can also take a look at the slides from the induction timetable review event that took place on 5 September.
You’re also invited to the following online event before your course begins:
Your final Q&A
Friday 22 September. AM and PM event options.
Two time slots are available for this session. You only need to join one session if you have any questions.
Important: Occupational Health
You’ll be allocated an Occupational Health (OH) appointment at the clinic being held at our Ormskirk campus. The clinics will be held within the first weeks of when you start the course (dates are yet to be finalised).
Please remember that it’s a condition of entry to the programme that you’re cleared and immunised by OH. If you don’t meet this requirement your place on the programme could be jeopardised. It’s also important to remember that if you’re not fully cleared by OH, you won’t be able to fully enrol on your course. This could then mean you can’t access your maintenance loan via Student Finance England.
So, to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible, you’ll need to provide details of your immunisation record to the OH Team when you complete the questionnaire.
If you’re unable to attend your allocated time slot, you must contact us, preferably giving at least 24 hours notice. If you’re unable to give 24 hours notice or have an issue on the day of your appointment, please email [email protected] or call the team on 01695 650946. The OH and School team will try to provide another appointment, but this is likely to be at the OH department based in Wigan and you will need to make sure that you attend.
Most of our placement settings will also require you to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition of placement. If you’re not vaccinated or are part way through vaccination, please let us know as soon as possible. It’s likely that this will be included on your immunisation record which will be sufficient to confirm your clearance.
We routinely collect data on short notice cancellations and non-attendance. Unfortunately, if this happens more than once, the University will charge you the full cost of the appointment.
Suggested reading
You’ll be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies in September.
In the meantime, there are a couple of books you might like to read before starting your degree if you can. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive. But if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online, the following titles are recommended in the first module of the programme to enable you to consider key texts in midwifery and anatomy and physiology:
- BASTON, H., HALL, J. and ELINION, A.B., 2017. Midwifery Essentials: Basics (Vol. 1). Elsevier Health Sciences.
- COAD, J. and DUNSTALL, M., 2019. Anatomy and physiology for midwives – 4th Edition. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- COTTRELL, S. 2019 The Study Skills Handbook. 5th ed. London: Bloomsbury Publishing
- DAVEY, L. and HOUGHTON, D., 2013. The Midwife’s Pocket Formulary. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- GIMENEZ, J., 2019. Writing for nursing and midwifery students. Macmillan International Higher Education.
- JOHNSON, R. and TAYLOR, W., 2022 . Skills for Midwifery Practice – 5th edition. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- MACDONALD, S. and JOHNSON, G. eds., 2017. Mayes’ Midwifery E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- WAMBACH, K. and SPENCER, B., 2019. Breastfeeding and human lactation. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- LOMAX, A. 2015. Examination of the Newborn: an Evidence-Based Guide, 2nd Edition. E- Book. Wiley Blackwell.
Useful websites
Things to do now
Training to become a midwife is a rewarding and challenging role requiring a diverse range of skills, including working independently and as part of a multi-professional team. The focus of the programme is woman- and person-centred care and working in close partnership with women and people and their families to provide support, care and advice throughout during the childbirth continuum.
As an Edge Hill University midwifery student, learning and teaching will be facilitated by a team of highly experienced and motivated lecturers, who are all registered midwives. There is a commitment throughout the programme to enhance the student experience in preparation for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
A career in midwifery can be varied, including practising in a hospital or community setting, stand-alone birth centres or independent practice. Opportunities to develop post registration can enable career pathways in clinical, management, teaching and research roles.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council will give you detailed information about the professional codes and standards.
Shortly after you start with us in September, you will have a week-long induction to introduce and familiarise you with University life.
Affiliation to a union body is also recommended, for example: