Student Nurse Training

Stewarts Hospital has a proud tradition of training nurses in the field of intellectual disabilities since the establishment of the school of nursing in 1971. Today you will find our graduates making a valuable contribution in centres and communities all over the country and indeed in many parts of the world as well as Stewarts Services themselves.

The undergraduate-nursing programme is run in conjunction with the University of Dublin, Trinity College (T.C.D) (www.tcd.ie/info/prospectivestudents/). The four-year programme is divided between theoretical education programme in T.C.D. and the practical component in Stewarts Hospital and affiliated services. Throughout the four-year theoretical education programme, students undertake a variety of clinical experiences alongside a registered nurse. The range of experiences includes, education and development of the child, education and development of the adult, disorders of human behaviour, acute nursing, and specialist placements (as per Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education Programmes, An Bord Altranais, 2005).

Applications for the undergraduate programme are made through the Central Applications office (CAO): (www.cao.ie). Information regarding application process can be found in Nursing /Midwifery A Career for you (www.nursingcareers.ie), this document includes criteria for application for leaving cert students, mature applicants, and healthcare workers sponsorship scheme (www.hse.ie/en/Careers), (HSE HR Circular No. 09/2006 Sponsorship for Public Health Service Employees wishing to Train as Nurse Midwifes).

Candidates who qualify for registration with An Bord Altranais (http://www.nursingboard.ie/) and who satisfy the requirements of the University may apply to be conferred with a degree in Nursing Studies from Trinity College, and will be eligible to register as Registered Nurse in Intellectual Disability (RNID).

Our aim is to develop student’s knowledge, skills, attitudes and professional values in preparation for their role as competent, responsible, accountable RNID’s, to this end
nursing students are treated as responsible, mature, and capable individuals, who are active in their learning as opposed to being passive recipients of information.

The following supports are in place for nursing students while on placement from the Nurse Practice Development Unit (NPDU). In the NPDU there is a Nurse Practice Development Co-ordinator, Clinical Placement Co-ordinators, and a Student Allocations Liaison Officer.

Nurse Practice Development Unit

Description of Service:

The Unit was established to support the Diploma Programmes in Nursing and to develop Nursing practice. As envisaged by the department of Health and Children the role is triplicate in nature and includes:

Student support through supervision of the C.P.C’s
Nursing Practice Development through staff development and education, research, and support.
Implementation of quality improvement measures.

The purpose of the N.P.D.U. is to ensure that persons with an intellectual disability receive quality-nursing care that is responsive to their individual needs. This is achieved by ensuring the delivery of nursing services through the co-ordination of processes and structure that have the ability/capacity to continuously respond to individual service users care requirements. Nurse practice development is focused on direct care, and the nurse who delivers that care.

The following staffs the nurse practice development unit: A Nurse Practice Development Co-ordinator, Clinical Placement Co-Coordinators, and a Student Liaison Allocations Officer.

Functions of Department:

Support and ensure the delivery of service user focused care
Developing structures to promote and maintain good working relationships between departments, both on site and with TCD.
Developing and reviewing the clinical learning environment in order to meet nursing standards and educational objectives.
Formulating service user focused policies, protocols, and procedures.
Collaborate with all departments to develop systems and processes for care.

Work in partnership with Trinity College Dublin (www.tcd.ie), An Bord Altranais (http://www.nursingboard.ie/), and the Center for Nurse Education (www.hseeasternregion.ie), to develop, implement and evaluate the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programme.

The Nurse Practice Development Co-Ordinator:

The Nurse Practice Development Co-Ordinator (NPDC) heads up the Nurse Practice Development Unit (NPDU). The role includes the promotion of practice development initiatives in all our services, leading nurse quality assurance programmes, with the assistance of the Clinical Placement Co-Ordinators and the Allocations Officer. The role also includes monitoring and ensuring the quality of student’s practice placements. The NPDC also has close links with Trinity College and is engaged in a number of BScN related committees aimed at continual improvement of every aspect of the course e.g. Joint Working Group, Curriculum subgroup, Competency committee.

Clinical Placement Co-Ordinators (CPC’s):

In line with the Report of The Commission on Nursing the role of the CPC includes:

Guiding, supporting, and facilitating nursing students learning whilst on clinical placements
Creating and maintaining quality-learning environments, by ensuring clinical placements meet the requirements of the educational programme and An Bord Altranais with regard to the planned experiences and outcomes.
Enhancing students clinical competence
Provide support and guidance to staff in their role as preceptors
Facilitating partnership between the health service provider, namely Stewarts Hospital, and Trinity College Dublin
Advising, and encouraging nursing students to achieve the maximum outcome from their placement
Ensuring practice assessments are fairly and accurately carried out
Encouraging the application of theoretical knowledge to nursing practice in the clinical areas
Resolving issues that could impact upon the quality of a placement
Helping students to develop skills in relation to analysis/ critical thinking/ problem solving, and reflective practice.
Ensuring students work within their scope of practice whilst acknowledging the interests/ rights of the service users

Facilitate practice preparation and feedback sessions for all BSc students prior to, and following their clinical placements.

Student Allocations Liaison Officer (SALO):

The SALO is the link between Stewarts Hospital and Trinity College Dublin regarding clinical placements for nursing students both on-site and, by liasing with other health service providers for external placements. The position is an integral part of the NPDU. The role of the SALO includes:

Establishing and co-ordinating nursing students placements within Stewarts Hospital services, with reference to the requirements and standards as produced by Bord Altranais.
Allocating Trinity nursing students from other health service providers, within Stewart’s services.
Arrange additional placements for nursing students who were on sick leave/ absenteeism, to ensure they are meeting the requirements of An Bord Altranais
Ensures that all nursing students have their required vaccinations
Oversees and plans the induction for nursing students
Organises ID badges and uniforms for all nursing students
Ensure that all nursing students have health checks and Garda clearances
To record absenteeism, successful completion of clinical placement or supplementary placement completion

Access to Service:

The public do not have direct access to this unit, as this is an internal hospital function.

Contact:

Lasarina Maguire: Nurse Practice Development Co-Ordinator
Telephone: 01 6264444

Graham Murray: Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator
Telephone: 01 6518282

Marie Byrne: Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator
Telephone: 01 6518282

Lynn Moran: Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator
Telephone: 01 6518282

Jennie Wall: Student Liaison Allocations Officer
Telephone: 01 6518279