Archive News 2012
School of Nursing and Midwifery Careers Evening
The School of Nursing and Midwifery Alumni Committee held its first Annual 'Nursing and Midwifery Career Evening' for the Senior Sophistor class of 2011/2012 nursing and midwifery students on Thursday October 4th 2012. Two of the presentations on the evening were given by School Alumni. Valerie Small provided an inspiring overview of her journey to becoming the first Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Nursing in Ireland, while Mairead Mc Morrow spoke about her first year in practice and imparted her advice to those just setting out on their nursing and midwifery careers. Sarah Ryan from the Careers Advisory Service and John Dillon from the Alumni Office also gave terrific inputs and highlighted the many supports available to our Alumni in College.
Improving Leadership in Healthcare
Thursday 13th September 2012
School of Nursing and Midwifery Hosts Seminar on Leadership in Health Care
On Thursday 13th September 2012 the School of Nursing and Midwifery hosted a Seminar entitled Improving Leadership in Health Care. The Seminar was organised by a small team of staff in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, led by Dr. Elizabeth Curtis and including Dr. Jan de Vries, Dr. Fintan Sheerin and Jeni Ryan. This popular event commenced three years ago and has since become a regular feature in the School's calendar, which is not surprising given the importance of effective leadership in health care and the continued interest shown by delegates over the years. The purpose of hosting this one-day annual Seminar is to provide an opportunity for health care professionals to explore important issues in leadership and assist them in improving skills, knowledge and work-based practices. The Seminar programme included topics such as Leadership for Managing Health Services; Leadership and Teams; Leadership and Autonomy at Work; Learning and Leadership; and Leadership Skills for 21st Century Health Care. The speakers included Senior Academics from third level institutions in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales and delegates came from a cross section of health care institutions in Ireland and the UK. The day was enjoyed by all present and many delegates reported that "The Seminar was the best they had attended in a long while".
Dr. Jan DeVries, Dr. Elizabeth Curtis, Prof. Catherine Comiskey, Jeni Ryan
Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation Launch ' Create Inspire Innovate'
'Create Inspire Innovate' (Cii) is a new initiative by the 'Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation' (CPHI) at the School of Nursing and Midwifery to help inspire students, staff and potential collaborators both internally within TCD and externally to pursue creative thinking within practice and healthcare research and innovation.
Cii seeks to inspire collaborative thinking and interaction from various disciplines including psychology, creative technologies, medicine, computer science (and many more) with nursing and midwifery.
The CPHI have launched a web-blog to keep you up to date with news and information on innovative practice and healthcare research, projects, seminars, workshops, courses and events happening within the CPHI as part of the Cii series at the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The site will also aim to keep you informed of exciting practice and healthcare innovation developments globally by discussing new trends, rising technologies, novel methodologies and ground breaking-research initiatives.
With interviews, videos, breaking news, podcasts, guest authors and staff/student contributions to the site we hope you find this an engaging platform to share with us your thoughts, ideas, energy and enthusiasm for practice and healthcare innovation.
You can use this site to subscribe to the newly launched CPHI Facebook, Twitter and Flickr accounts as well as see organisations and institutions the CPHI are closely working with in the links sections. On the home page you can subscribe to the website directly via RSS feeds or regular updates via e-mail by joining our mailing list. The site has also platform friendly versions for mobile devices and the iPad so you can follow us Cii on the go!
Kicking of the Cii initiative at the School Research and Education day on September 11th were talks the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), Silvercloud and The Innovation Academy, these talks will be made available shortly via podcasts on the site.
Talk 1: Dr. Gordon Elliot & Dr. Margaret Woods (TTO) - "Facilitating Knowledge Transfer from Research Innovation"
Talk 2: Dr. Gavin Doherty (School of Computers and Statistical Science and Silvercloud) - "The Silvercloud e-Health Platform"
Talk 3: Dr. Daniel Rogers & Ms. Louise Andrews - "The Innovation Academy Roadshow"
Student Awards 2011-2012
On Wednesday the 21st of November 2011, the School of Nursing & Midwifery, TCD, hosted its Student Awards Ceremony for the Academic Year 2011-12. The School established the Student Awards in order to celebrate the academic achievements of our students.
The awards were set up to mark the School's 10th anniversary in 2006 and a number of awards have since been made to students who have achieved excellence in their academic studies.
In 2011/12 a total of 14 awards were presented to the School's top students across a wide range of courses. The recipients of the awards were:
Programme |
Surname |
First Name |
Undergraduate Nursing |
||
BSc (Cur) / Children's and General (Integrated) Degree Programme: Junior Freshman |
Akpulonu |
Mable Louise Oluwatoyin Boboe |
BSc (Cur) / Children's and General (Integrated) Degree Programme: Senior Freshman |
Glennon |
Sarah |
BSc (Cur) / Children's and General (Integrated) Degree Programme: Junior Sophister |
Fitzgerald |
Nessa |
BSc (Cur) / Children's and General (Integrated) Degree Programme: Senior Sophister |
Mulligan |
Deirdre |
Undergraduate Midwifery |
|
|
BSc Midwifery Programme: Junior Freshman |
Reed |
Darelle |
BSc Midwifery Programme: Senior Freshman |
Woodbyrne |
Rachel Elizabeth |
BSc Midwifery Programme: Junior Sophister |
Clare |
Sophie Carolyn |
BSc Midwifery Programme: Senior Sophister |
Strachan |
Shonagh |
Postgraduate/Higher Diplomas |
|
|
H Dip Children's Nursing |
Ryan |
Claire |
H Dip Midwifery |
Moran |
Anna |
Masters |
|
|
MSc Mental Health full-time |
Woods |
Nollaig |
MSc Mental Health part-time |
O'Connor |
Amy |
MSc Palliative Care |
Jennings |
Valerie |
MSc Cancer Care |
Drury |
Amanda |
Students' family, friends, and staff of the School and linked Health Service providers were present to celebrate these students' achievements as they accepted their awards.
The Ceremony was opened by the School Administrator Mr Frank O'Rourke which was followed by addresses by the Head of School Prof. Agnes Higgins. Prof Higgins complemented the students on their hard work, commitment and outstanding achievement and thanked the student's families and staff in both TCD and the linked hospitals for their support of the students.
Prof Higgins also announced the introduction of a new school award scheme: the Preceptor of the Year Award. This is a great opportunity to recognise and reward clinical staff who have made an outstanding contribution as preceptors to our undergraduate nursing and midwifery students and are creative in their approaches to facilitating student learning during clinical practice experience. The award also reflects the value which we in the School of Nursing and Midwifery place on the importance of clinical practice education and on promoting excellence within preceptorship. There will be a call for nominations in the coming weeks.
Launch of EOLAS Project: A Mental Health Information and Learning Programme for people with severe mental Health difficulties
On Wednesday, 28th of November the EOLAS project , a mental Health information and learning programme for people with severe mental Health difficulties was launched by Ms. Kathleen Lynch, TD, Minister of State, Department of Health and Department of Justice, Equality and Defence with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People. The launch took placein MaCauley Place, Sallins Road, Naas, Co. Kildare.
- The EOLAS project is a localised venture between the HSE Kildare/West Wicklow Mental Health Service, service users and family members, Shine, the Irish Advocacy Network, Kildare Youth Services, and Trinity College Dublin.
- The content of the EOLAS programme was decided in collaboration with service users and family members.
- EOLAS consists of two parallel programmes, each lasting 8 week(one for service users and the other for families/close friends).
- Each programme is delivered by two co-facilitators, one of whom is a peer facilitator (i.e. a service user or family member) and the other a clinician.
- Each facilitator underwent training in facilitation skills and in the content of the EOLAS Programme.
- The project was funded by the Genio Trust and evaluated by a research team, at the School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Psychology Trinity College Dublin, led by Professor Agnes Higgins.
Minister of State for Older People Kathleen Lynch TD in her comments said: 'this is a unique and innovative project that is another positive step forward in achieving the targets set out in Vision for Change Policy and promoting a partnership approach between service users, families and practitioners within an ethos of recovery'.
This is the content for Layout P TagSean, a service user participant, commented that the programme was 'an empowering experience, as it gives you confidence to ask questions from the doctors and nurses. It was also great to be in a group with other people who had similar experiences'.
Dr Pat Gibbons Consultant Psychiatrist and chairperson of the EOLAS project group, said that the programme was an attempt to respond to service users and family needs for information relating to rights, diagnosis, treatment options, recovery strategies and knowledge of the mental health system. He pointed out that the programme was unique in that is was developed and implemented in collaboration with service users, family member and clinical practitioners, and was different to traditional information and learning programmes as the programme was co-facilitated by service users, family members and clinical facilitators, and has a specific focus on 'Recovery'.
Professor Agnes Higgins of Trinity College Dublin, who conducted the research commented that 'although peer-to-peer approaches have been well developed and successful in other health contexts, they are under-developed in mental health care and the findings of the evaluation clearly demonstrated that the peer and clinician led programme had positive outcomes, including enhanced knowledge, empowerment and support for participants. In addition, she highlighted the benefits that service users and family members experienced in having a space where they could meet people in similar circumstances and share their personal experiences, learn from each other, and form social bonds which reduced a sense of isolation. The findings also indicated the need for this or a similar programme to be rolled out in other services' .
Dr Honor Nicholl, School of Nursing and Midwifery receives International 'Educator of the Year' award for her work in the area of children's palliative care.
On the 29th March 2012 the International Journal of Palliative Nursing (IJPN) partnered with Macmillan Cancer Support to host the IJPN Awards and celebrate achievement and excellence in the work of nurses and their teams in palliative care.
At a Gala Dinner in London, Dr Honor Nicholl, assistant professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery was announced as joint winner of the 'Educator of the Year' category in recognition of her influence and commitment to education in the area of children's palliative care. Dr Nicholl's vision led her to develop the first interdisciplinary children's palliative care education programme in Ireland with the aid of funding from the Irish Hospice Foundation. The judges were particularly impressed with how Honor responded to National Policy and had made determined efforts to ensure key stakeholders were involved in curriculum development and programme delivery.
In accepting the award Honor paid tribute to her colleagues at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the IMPCCP team and the Irish Hospice Foundation, who supported and helped her develop the children's palliative care programme.
A well deserved award; Congratulations Honor.
Juliet Bouverie, Honor Nicholl, Andrew Churnside
Senior Sophistor Nursing, Midwifery student posters
These posters were produced in 2012 by final year students studying for the award of Bachelor of Science (nursing) & Bachelor of Science (midwifery). The nursing posters are based on the students' research proposals while the midwifery poster is based on the student's literature review. These students were awarded the highest marks in their respective disciplines for their research proposals and literature review.
CPHI Encourages PhD Students to take up the Innovation Academy - 'Innovation Course'
Following the Innovation Academy Roadshow at the School on September 11th, the CPHI is encouraging PhD students to check out the free innovation course at the TCD/UCD Innovation Academy held at the Innovation Academy,College Green, TCD.
The Innovation Academy offers a unique Graduate Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship to research students registered in TCD. This modular certificate aims to foster a new genre of PhD graduate, expert in their discipline, but with the additional skills, networks and confidence to rapidly convert their specialist knowledge and novel ideas into value for commercial and/or societal benefit. The Innovation Academy considers innovation in its broadest sense to include the development of a new product, service or policy, social entrepreneurship and cultural innovation.
The course is delivered by experiential learning in a small group environment and provides students with the opportunity to develop their creativity, communication skills, team work, digital media skills and business awareness - all in the context of their own disciplinary area. The Innovation Academy connects our PhD students to a network of other research students, external organizations from the private and public sectors, and entrepreneurs. In partnership with UCD and QUB, the Innovation Academy offers additional opportunities for our PhD students, including participation in international entrepreneurship summer schools, innovation & entrepreneurship conferences and relevant national and international workshops and events.
The course is free to registered research students and has been designed to cater for students from across all disciplines. The modules in innovation & entrepreneurship fulfill the generic skills requirements of a structured PhD and should be considered for inclusion in research grant applications when evidence of training in this area will enhance the quality of your grant application.
Dr. John Dinsmore (CPHI) to be Judge on 'Belfast Telegraph' 'App for Life' Competition.
The Belfast Telegraph have partnered with Origin Partners Belfast to invite ideas for mobile Apps from the general public which could improve how we live (health, wealth, learning, environment etc) with the winner getting up to £20k of time to design, develop and take the App to market.
Dr. John Dinsmore 'Health Innovation Lead' at the CPHI has been selected as one of 5 Judges for this competition.
The Belfast have committed over £60k of advertising and editorial (print and digital) through the 3-4 weeks of the contest, which launches on Sept 17th and judging will take place on the week of October 22nd .
In the promotion campaign the CPHI and School of Nursing and Midwifery (TCD) will receive great coverage as well as in the press relating to the winners.
School of Nursing and Midwifery TCD hosts Hearing Voices Group Facilitation Workshop
On the 5th, 6th and 7th September 2012 the School of Nursing and Midwifery hosted a three day Experiential Workshop for Mental Health Staff and People with Lived Experience who wanted to develop their knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate a Hearing Voices Support Group. The event was funded by the Health Service Executive Nursing and Midwifery Planning Development Unit and the Irish Institute of Mental Health Nursing. The programme was facilitated by Jacqui Dillon from the Hearing Voices Network (UK) and attended by twenty one participants from all over the country.
There are as yet very few Hearing Voices groups in Ireland. Hearing Voices Groups offer a safe place for people to feel accepted and comfortable sharing their experiences of voices, visions, tactile sensations and other unusual experiences and perceptions. People meet together to help and support each other, to exchange information, and to learn from one another. Groups also offer an opportunity for people to accept and "live with voices" in a way that enables them to regain some control over their lives. There is an established and emerging body of evidence to support the effectiveness of Hearing Voices Groups. They offer people who hear voices the opportunity to share their experience and find ways of coping with this experience, which can be complementary to other support methods. After the training, participants are expected to start up a hearing voices group and/or co-facilitate an existing group. It is also envisaged that the programme will lead to the establishment of a network where practising facilitators can meet regularly to share good practice and their experiences.
Two academics from School of Nursing and Midwifery profiled in Leadership book
Professor Cecily Begley, Chair of Nursing and Midwifery and Professor Mary McCarron, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences have been profiled as two of the 20 most influential Irish nurses/midwives in a recently published book 'Leadership in Action: Influential Irish Women Nurses Contribution to society'. The book was written as a testimony to 20 Irish women who have made a difference in society through their significant leadership contributions in this field.
Commenting on her inclusion in the book Professor Begley said: "I am honoured to be included in this publication, with so many illustrious women. I found the interview to be a stimulating experience, allowing reflection on the key important facets of leadership, in my view, persistence and positivity."
Professor McCarron added: " While it is an honour it is also a responsibility to be included in such company. A responsibility to continue to be advocates, evidence-based researchers and decision makers as Ireland's healthcare landscape continues to transform".
The book is edited by McCarthy, G and Fitzpatrick, J (eds).
Janet Swinburne, PhD student and former Project Manager of the IDS-TILDA study, has secured a highly competitive in-service training position at the European Commission.
From just over 9,000 applicants from across Europe and non-European countries, Ms. Swinburne, an Intellectual Disability Nurse and PhD Student at the School of Nursing & Midwifery TCD, is one of 600 recipients to recently secure an in-service training position at the European Commission. Based in Brussels, Janet will be working within the EC Research and Innovation Department. Her combined practice experiences in policy development and research, post-graduate qualifications in health promotion, health sciences, health service policy, project management, and health law and work within the School and the IDS-TILDA study have provided a solid foundation for this competitive position
Maternal health and Maternal Morbidity in Ireland: Phase 2 (MAMMI 2)
A team composed of: Cecily Begley, Valerie Smith, Agnes Higgins, Declan Devane, Mike Clarke, and Michael Turner have been awarded 343,696.90 euro by the Health Research Board for one of the Health Research Awards 2012, to conduct a three-year study entitled "Maternal health and Maternal Morbidity in Ireland: Phase 2 (MAMMI 2)." Team members contributing to this project include Deirdre Daly, Margaret Carroll and Deirdre O'Malley and external collaborators include: Sam Coulter-Smith, John Morrison, Stephanie Brown, Susannah Sweetman, Richard Greene and Fiona Alderdice.
The Intellectual Disability Supplement to Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) Awarded New Funding
The second wave of the Intellectual Supplement Disability to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) has been awarded funding of 300,000 euro from the Health Research Board and renewed funding from the Department of Health and Children. The study is the first of its kind in Europe and is also uniquely inclusive, from inception to dissemination. The first wave was published earlier this year and the second wave will commence in early 2013. Twelve research papers based on the first wave of the survey were recently presented at the World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability (IASSID). They included findings on health and health care utilisation as well as an increased understanding of social connectedness, employment, carer experiences and falls in this population.
A series of research questions have been subsequently developed for the second wave including the incidence of disease and increased disability, links between health characteristics and health service utilisation, the components of good health and longevity and predictors of premature ageing and frailty in people with intellectual disability (ID). These questions will be tested with data emerging from the second phase of the study.
Principal investigator, Professor McCarron, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences noted: "Our work continues to gain international as well as funder recognition because it continues to be a groundbreaking study with its nationally representative sample. There is also huge support from people with an intellectual disability, their families and providers. There will be opportunities for comparisons with the general population and now, with this second wave of data collection, we will be able to understand how lives change over time, to track actual incidence of chronic conditions and to link social, family, daily living and health related data. We ultimately hope to provide insights that will influence the development of policy responses to the ageing of people with ID."
About the Intellectual Disability Supplement to Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA)
The Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) is being carried out by Trinity College Dublin and led by Professor Mary McCarron, of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at TCD.
The Intellectual Disability Supplement to Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) is designed to better understand the experiences and challenges of adults with an intellectual disability (ID) as they age. In its first wave of data collection, IDS-TILDA accumulated a sample of 753 persons aged 40+ with an ID. The sample was drawn randomly from the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD) which responded to questionnaires addressing demographics, health, health utilisation, medication usage, ADL/IADLs, employment/day programming, social participation, social connectedness, life satisfaction, happiness, ageing perceptions, personal choices, sources of income and life-long learning. The first wave cross-sectional findings established that the ageing of people with ID was similar in many respects to that of the general population but there were important differences in physical and mental health, health care access and utilization, incidence of dementia, and access to life-long learning, social engagement and friendship/family networks. The data is attracting national and international interest and it is the research team's plan to make the data available electronically for other researchers.
Public Consultation on Improving the Lives of Children and Young People
Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will launch a public consultation on improving the lives of children and young people on Monday, 11th June 2012. Consultation forms can be completed on-line or in hard copy. The closing date for the consultation is Friday, 6th July 2012.
The consultation will inform the development of all key policies and strategies in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs over the next five years.
Your cooperation in issuing this reminder and promoting the consultation is much appreciated.
Presentation of Awards - Children's Palliative Care
In 2010, under the leadership of Dr. Honor Nicholl, a team within the School of Nursing and Midwifery were awarded funding from The Irish Hospice Foundation to develop an education programme in children's palliative care. Three standalone, Level 9 modules in children's palliative care were developed from an inter-disciplinary perspective. Throughout the development, implementation and evaluation phases of the modules developed, close collaboration between academics and practice-based professionals was maintained. The delivery of the programme commenced in Michaelmas term 2011 and concluded in Trinity term 2012. Fifteen students participated representing nursing, social work, physiotherapy and chaplaincy.
Palliative care for children is complex due to the child's diverse developmental, psycho-social, spiritual and physiological needs. The involvement of parents as care-givers and decision-makers further increases the complexity of care. The development of these modules further responds to the need addressed by the Department of Health & Children and The Irish Hospice Foundation Report (2005) which identified the need for the development of children's palliative care services and to the Department of Health & Children Report (2009) for the development of children's palliative care inter-disciplinary education.
Information Leaflet Developed on 22q.11 Deletion Syndrome
The information leaflet developed on 22q.11 deletion syndrome in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin by a team of Researchers led by Dr Honor Nicholl will be launched next week. This information leaflet was developed as a result of a research project undertaken by a team of interested professionals and parents.
Major research funding success: Prof Cecily Begley from the School of Nursing and Midwifery awarded 3 million for the OptiBIRTH project.
A team of researchers led by Professor Cecily Begley in the School of Nursing and Midwifery have been awarded 3 million euro from the European Commission for the "OptiBIRTH" research project.
The study addresses the widespread concern over rising Caesarean section rates throughout Europe, particularly routine CS following a previous CS, despite calls for increased vaginal births after Caesarean (VBAC). VBAC is associated with lower maternal mortality than repeat CS, less overall morbidity for mothers and babies, and is the preferred option for the majority of women. VBAC rates in Ireland, Germany, and Italy are significantly lower (29-36%) than those in the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden (45-55%). The OptiBIRTH project will use a cluster randomised trial in Ireland, Germany, and Italy, with 15 clusters of 94 women in each, to increase VBAC rates from 33% to 53% through a complex intervention designed to increase women-centred care and women's involvement in their care.
The multi-national, multi-disciplinary research team for this project developed from the ESF-funded workshop: "Promoting Normality in Childbirth" held in the School in March 2010, and from the COST Action, (IS0907: Childbirth Cultures, Concerns, and Consequences: Creating a Dynamic EU Framework for Optimal Maternity Care), which started in June 2010.
The team is composed of 12 partner institutions from 8 countries, and includes service users, midwives, obstetricians, neonatologist, epidemiologist, sociologist, psychologist, bioethicist, health economist and a 'high-tech' small industry.
Lead institution: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
PI: Prof Cecily Begley, and team: Valerie Smith, Deirdre Daly, Joan Lalor, Janine Stockdale, David Prendergast, including the Coombe Hospital: Chris Fitzpatrick, Michael Turner, Jan Miletin and Patricia Hughes.
Co-applicant institutions and lead investigators:
Beverley Beech, Association for Improvements in Maternity Services, UK; Prof Ingela Lundgren, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Marianne Nieuwenhuijze, Zuyd University, The Netherlands; Prof Katri Vehvilainen-Julkunen, University of Eastern Finland, Finland; Prof Marlene Sinclair, University of Ulster, UK; Hugh Wiseman, Entando, UK; Prof Mike Clarke, Queen's University of Belfast, UK; Prof Mechthild Gross, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany; Prof Declan Devane, National University Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Prof Sandra Morano, Universita Degli Studi Di Genova, Italy; and Prof Koen Putman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
The award was made following submission to the HEALTH 2012 3.2-1 call "improving the organisation of health service delivery," sub-section "Patient-centred care and patients' involvement."
Announcement of Scholarships 2012
On Monday 16th of April 2012 the following students from the School of Nursing & Midwifery were awarded the Foundation Scholarship. The new Scholars are undergraduate students who have succeeded in the scholarship examination by exceptional answering of especially difficult questions set to test their ability as critical and innovative thinkers. The School would like to congratulate all recipients and wish them continued success.
The recipients are as follows:
Children's and General Nursing
Marharjan |
Sunita |
Kirwan |
Lisa |
Psychiatric Nursing
Nolan |
Fran |
Monaghan |
Caroline |
General Nursing
Sciberras |
Angele |
Abe |
Jennifer |
Midwifery
Hudson |
Julika |
Orientation for incoming undergraduate students
On Monday September 17th the School welcomes 300 incoming Nursing and Midwifery undergraduate students as they begin their studies in Trinity College. The students will commence their one-week orientation programme, a programme that includes a meet and greet by School staff, introductory lectures, introductions to the clinical aspect of the courses, document distribution, a library tour, student card collection and an introduction to the School's IT facilities. The orientation programme is designed to give our students the best possible start to their studies and indeed to their future career. We look forward to welcoming all the new faces to the School and we look forward to seeing the students through to their graduation in four years time.
Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation Launched
A newly formed Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin was recently launched (March 8th, 2012).
The Centre will bring together clinical practice staff in nursing and midwifery, aligned with academic strengths in a partnership that aims to provide improved models of service delivery and practice for the benefit of all patients, service users and society. As part of the initiative, it also aims to develop a national network of Practice Innovation Units that will work together sharing resources and developing research in nursing, midwifery and healthcare.
Commenting on its significance, its new director, Professor Catherine Comiskey explained: "In these challenging times for health services and research in Ireland this new Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation provides a framework to work in partnership with those in clinical practice, the health services and technology, with the common aim of improving the design, planning, delivery and implementation of healthcare for the benefit of all. This new initiative aims to place Trinity College Dublin as a leader in Ireland in fostering innovative and sustainable methods of enhancing healthcare, through research and innovation."
A number of international experts in the area of practice development and innovation were in attendance at the launch of the Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation. Professor Gary Rolfe and Dr Dave Barton of the Wales Centre for Practice Innovation at Swansea University, together with Ms Carolyn Jackson from Centre for Practice Development at Canterbury Christ Church University and Alice Webster of the NHS presented on their experience and the benefits of similar Centres for nursing and midwifery practice. Dr David Prendergast, Intel Ireland, also presented on his vision for innovation within healthcare.
PhD Nursing Student wins award for IASSID World Congress 2012, Halifax NS Canada
The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) World Congress Conference will be held in Halifax Novia Scotia in July 2012. The event provides an opportunity to celebrate and share strategies in research, education, and services in the field of intellectual disability. The event will attract over 1000 researchers from across the world. As part of IASSID and the world congress the Aging Special Interest Research Group is sponsoring fellowships open to students and early career researchers in the field of aging and intellectual disability. Ms Sinead Foran PhD nursing student was successful with her submission 'Using proxy reports to assess Fear of Falling among people with an intellectual disability' and has been awarded the 'Ageing SIRG Fellowship' to present at the conference. Sinead is undertaking her PhD as part of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA). We wish her well at the conference and in her future studies.
The MAMMI Study (Maternal health And Maternal Morbidity in Ireland)
The MAMMI Study (Maternal health And Maternal Morbidity in Ireland) started in January 2012. The study aims to identify the existence, extent and prevalence of maternal morbidity in 1600 first-time mothers antenatally and up to 12 months postpartum. The morbidities being studied include; urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, pain, sexual health problems, mental health problems and intimate partner violence (domestic violence). It is funded by the Health Research Board. For more information and the study documents including information booklets, consent forms and surveys, please go to www.mammi.ie
IDS-TILDA success with IRCHSS Award for New Ideas 2011 - 'Getting the Message to the People that Matter - Innovation in Research Dissemination'.
The Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) is designed to better understand the experiences and challenges of adults with ID as they age. The first wave of data collection accumulated a sample of 753 persons aged 40+ with an intellectual disability (ID) drawn randomly from the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD) who responded (or carers have responded on their behalf) to questionnaires addressing many aspects of their lives including health, social connections and employment to name but a few. From the inception of IDS-TILDA the inclusion of people with an ID in the research process has been integral. The IRCHSS New Ideas Award has been granted to the IDS-TILDA project which proposes to take such inclusion to new levels in the belief that this project will present people with an ID new ways to be research partners and support the engagement of people with an ID in research of benefit to them.
On December 14th 2011 Professor Mary McCarron PI (Dean of the Faculty of Health Science) and the IDS-TILDA team were successful in their application for the 'New Ideas Award 2011' funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS). The award was granted for their proposal for an innovative dissemination project titled 'Getting the Message to the People that Matter: Innovation in Research Dissemination'. The team propose to create a dynamic and inclusive web site to disseminate the findings from IDS-TILDA.
Inclusiveness and choice are part of the fundamental values framework that underpin the IDS-TILDA study and guides each step as the research is undertaken. People were offered choice in how they would like to receive the findings and over 200 participants choose a DVD format. Following consultation with the Dr David Prendergast (Intel) and Dr John Dinsmore (TCD) the proposal for a dynamic website evolved. The project is an alternative means of dissemination to enhance the continued engagement of people with an intellectual disability (ID) as partners in research. Now the participants will not only have a DVD of the findings but also access to the findings on an accessible website. The website will initially host the short films depicting the results of the findings making the results more accessible to a wider audience. The creation of accessible materials is key to supporting service user participation and to that end the actors in all the films are service users.
It is envisaged that the site will provide an online, user friendly multimedia web portal that increases accessibility of wave one (and subsequent) findings for participants, their family/carers, and their support staff. As the site grows and develops with the longitudinal study it will also provide a resource for researchers and other academics through the provision of downloadable data files and related documentation similar to other international longitudinal studies on ageing. The aim to provide project specific iPad/Android apps so that the touchscreen technology afforded by such devices may further increase accessibility in time will also be realised.
The implementation of this project will also place the IDS-TILDA study at the forefront of research supporting the improvement of accessibility and inclusion of subjects as partners, a key desire in disability research. It is envisaged that this project will help realize a goal of shared study ownership. In Ireland and throughout the world there is a growing population of older persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). This is an incredible success but also a tremendous challenge however celebrating this success should be embraced.
The impact of the proposed project will be far reaching from the viewpoints of both the IDS-TILDA study and participants. It has taken tremendous effort to launch the IDS-TILDA study and there will always be funding challenges as the subsequent waves are undertaken. It is important that every step is taken to advance the value of the study. An ability to make the data accessible will increase both the visibility and utility of the study, will help nurture comparative data collection in other countries and will support the exploration of key and evolving policy and practice questions.
The Opportunities for Children's Palliative Care Education and Delivery in Ireland, known as the "IMPccP project".
A team within the School of Nursing and Midwifery were, in 2010, awarded funding from The Irish Hospice Foundation to develop an inter-disciplinary education programme in children's palliative care. This funding responded to the Department of Health & Children and The Irish Hospice Foundation Report (2005) which identified the need for the development of children's palliative care services and to the Department of Health & Children Report (2009) for the development of children's palliative care inter-disciplinary education.
A strategic advisory group and a curriculum review group comprising of stakeholders and academics, together with national and international experts in children's palliative care, were formed to develop the programme. Representative stakeholders from voluntary and statutory healthcare agencies, service-users, academics and members of inter-professional teams have contributed to the development of the programme. The programme development is a two year project which involves, in year one, the design of the modules and, in year two, the delivery and evaluation of these modules.
This model of formal and informal partnership is fundamental, and is a guiding principle to the collaborative success in the development of the programme, ensuring the cohesiveness of this groundbreaking educational model. The delivery of the programme commenced in Michaelmas term 2011 and will conclude in Trinity term 2012 and consists of three Level 9 inter-disciplinary modules which include ongoing, strategic evaluation.
Curriculum Development
Fundamental to this curriculum development is to research the need for, and involve, people at the frontline of practice. The collaborative formation of strategic advisory and curriculum review groups has been positive and presented opportunities for developments in the area of specialist inter-professional education in children's palliative care. This offered an opportunity to design an innovative programme to encompass key principles of best practice in curriculum development:
Key principles
- Cohesive approach to provide an educationally appropriate and clinically focussed basis for practice development
- Stakeholder involvement
- Recognition of expertise
- Recognition for partnership
- Stakeholder involvement from the outset
- Inclusion of local and national perspectives
- Mutual respect
- Establishment of formal and informal planning groups to include:
Strategic Advisory Group
- Key service providers (voluntary & statutory agencies)
- Key service users
- Clinical practitioners
- Fund holders
- Policy makers
- Educationalists
Curriculum Review Group
- Service providers
- Service users
- Clinical practitioners
- Educationalists
Pictured above are members of the Project team including ( l-r) Ms. Anne Hayes, Project Assistant, Ms. June Murphy, EO, Dr. Honor Nicholl, Assistant Professor/Principal Investigator, TCD, Caitriona Nic Philbin, Assistant Professor/Course Co-ordinator, MSc in Mental Health (Child, Adolescent & Family Strand), TCD, Dr Jayne Price, Course Co-ordinator, TCD/Senior Teaching Fellow (Children's Nursing), Queen's University, Belfast, Prof. Agnes Higgins, Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, TCD, Ms. Sharon Foley, CEO, The Irish Hospice Foundation, Dr Catherine Tracey, Course Co-ordinator
Visible Lives report on older LGBT people launched
On November 3rd, Ireland's first research report on the lives of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people was launched at the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson Street by Brian Purcell, Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality. The research was conducted by a team of researchers in the TCD School of Nursing and Midwifery, led by Professor Agnes Higgins and is the first research report that specifically explores the lives of LGBT people aged 55 and over living in Ireland.
Older Irish LGBT people grew up in an environment where they were pathologised, criminalised and faced stigmatisation, prejudice and exclusion. For many, this led to marginalisation from family and community, as well as discrimination in key areas of their lives, including in employment. Most people surveyed went through the whole of their adolescence and their early adulthood without disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity to anyone and without any contact with other LGBT people.
While the narratives and survey findings demonstrate their resilience in overcoming adversity, the report also highlights challenges and fears faced by older LGBT people. As older LGBT people enter the later years of their lives, they are faced with a double invisibility both as older people and as LGBT people. Participants worry about isolation and loneliness as they age, particularly those living in rural areas. Many were single (43%), which is a much greater proportion than the 15% for the entire over 55 population from the 2006 Census. In addition, there was major concern that older age services and health care services would discriminate against them as LGBT people by not recognising or protecting their LGBT identity. Nearly a quarter of participants would not reveal their LGBT identify to a health care practitioner for fear of a negative reaction.
While acknowledging the huge progress that has been made in Ireland, Professor Agnes Higgins commented that "this is a generation of older LGBT people who have had to campaign for their recognition and rights. As a society, we need to ensure that we don't disenfranchise or discriminate against this group again as they age." She highlighted the need for a cross-sectoral approach that supports positive ageing for older LGBT people and stressed the importance of ensuring that national policies are inclusive of older LGBT people's needs and that these policies are implemented in health and social care practices. The report was commissioned by GLEN, funded by the Get Vocal programme of Age & Opportunity and the HSE.
Eddie Parsons of GOLD, Agnes Higgins, Head of School, TCD School of Nursing and Midwifery,
Kieran Rose, Chair of GLEN
Agnes Higgins, Head of School, TCD School of Nursing and Midwifery
Brian Purcell, Secretary General of the Deptartment of Justice and Equality
Andrew Montague, Lord Mayor of Dublin
Kieran Rose, Chair of GLEN, Catherine Rose, CEO of Age & Opportunity
Trinity College Dublin collaborates with Enterprise Ireland in a marketing initiative to increase the number of international students choosing to study in Ireland.
Trinity College Dublin participated in an Education in Ireland promotion along with other Irish universities and Institutes of Technology at the 2nd International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Launched in March 2011, Education in Ireland is the new umbrella brand for marketing Irish higher education internationally and is part of the overseas marketing drive to double the number of international students choosing to study in Ireland. The new brand is one of the commitments in the Programme for a National Government 2011-2016. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D and Mr. Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland visited the Education in Ireland stand and met college representatives at the education fair which was held on 19-22 April 2011.
The International Office, Trinity College Dublin organised and coordinated College's participation at the 2011 International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education in Riyadh. Dr Naomi Elliott, from the School of Nursing and Midwifery was the Trinity College representative at the education fair. This is the key education fair in the Middle East with over 429 exhibitors from international and local colleges and 35 countries taking part in the 4-day event.
Saudi Arabia is emerging as a market with significant opportunities for Irish universities and colleges. The fair provides opportunity for academics and university representatives to engage with students, give information about degree programmes and answer the individual student's questions about college and international student experiences and opportunities available in Dublin.
The programmes that undergraduate and postgraduate students were interested in studying in Trinity College included business, engineering, education, communication, linguistics, dentistry, medicine, medical imaging, pharmacy and nursing. The number of students opting to study overseas is growing. According to the Education in Ireland website, there are approximately 20,000 students travelling overseas for higher education in a variety of countries at both under and post graduate levels. The Saudi Ministry of Higher Education has given scholarship to 9000 students in 2011-2012 to study in overseas colleges. For further information on Education in Ireland and the initiatives to promote Ireland as a quality destination for international students, visit http://www.educationireland.ie/
Picture: Dr Naomi Elliott, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin and Mr. Richard Bruton T.D, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the international education fair in Saudi Arabia.
The online application process has opened for the new M.Sc. /P.Grad. Dip in Nursing - Child Health and Wellbeing.
The aim of the M.Sc./P.Grad. Dip. in Nursing - Child Health and Wellbeing is to provide a solid academic base to the understanding and development of nursing practice in the area of child health and illness. The strand will strengthen and develop the knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes of the participants, thus enabling them to fulfil their highest potential in the personal, professional and practice arena of children's health. The strand will provide advanced study in research methods, the theoretical and practical aspects of management, clinical practice and leadership and child health perspectives as well as contemporary issues in child health and wellbeing. It is anticipated that graduates of this strand, in applying their learning, will be enabled to promote and develop excellence in children's illness, child health and wellbeing in primary, secondary and tertiary health care services.
Research Portfolio 2006-2009 (PDF, 4.42Mb)
You are invited to browse the School's Research Portfolio 2006-09 (PDF) and to review the expertise of our staff and PhD students. Staff members are happy for you to contact them if you would like any further information on any of our projects. If you have a research topic that you do not see included in this portfolio please contact us to discuss your ideas.
Fusing the Horizon
This study, Irish Hospice Foundation and the Health Research Board began with an effort to understand staff experiences in supporting persons with intellectual disability and advanced dementia. A cross section of intellectual disability service providers and a specialist palliative care provider in the Republic of Ireland were involved in the study. Their experiences were interpreted to gain an understanding of their education and training needs and this information was then the basis for an educational intervention which was designed, delivered and evaluated as a pilot effort with these services. A partnership approach which involved the Trinity College School of Nursing and Midwifery research team, intellectual disability service providers and a specialist palliative care service was crucial to the success of this study. A copy of the full Executive Summary (PDF, 217Kb) is available to read or download. Note, copies of the Educational Packs may be purchased from Annabel Walsh, Executive Officer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, tel 01 8962775.
Student Awards 2010-11
On Tuesday the 8th of November 2011, the School of Nursing & Midwifery, TCD, hosted it's Student Awards Ceremony for the Academic Year 2010-11. The School established the Student Awards in order to celebrate the academic achievements of our students. The awards were set up to mark the School's 10th anniversary in 2006 and a number of awards have since been made to students who have achieved excellence in their academic studies.
In 2010/11 a total of 16 awards were presented to the School's top students across a wide range of courses.
The recipients of the awards were:
Programme |
Surname |
First Name |
Undergraduate Nursing |
||
Children's and General (Integrated) Degree Programme: Junior Freshman |
Kirwan |
Lisa |
BSc (Cur) Programme: Senior Freshman |
Nolan |
Fran |
BSc (Cur) Programme: Junior Sophister |
Flanagan |
Grace |
BSc (Cur) Programme: Senior Sophister |
Burns |
Gemma |
|
|
|
Undergraduate Midwifery |
|
|
BSc Midwifery Programme: Junior Freshman |
Lyes |
Alwyn |
BSc Midwifery Programme: Senior Freshman |
Clare |
Sophie |
BSc Midwifery Programme: Junior Sophister |
Strachan |
Shonagh |
BSc Midwifery Programme: Senior Sophister |
Byrne |
Isobel Cummins |
|
|
|
Bachelor in Nursing Studies |
Casserly |
Deirdre |
|
|
|
Postgraduate/Higher Diplomas |
|
|
H Dip Children's Nursing |
O'Brien |
Carey |
H Dip Midwifery |
O'Kelly |
Sonia |
PG Dip Specialist Nursing |
Carroll |
Sinead |
|
|
|
MSc |
|
|
MSc Cancer Care |
Grier |
Elaine |
MSc Gerontological Nursing |
Shanagher |
Deirdre |
MSc Mental Health |
Bourke |
Margaret |
MSc Nursing |
Craven |
Elaine |
Students' family, friends, and staff of the School and linked Health Service providers were present to celebrate these students' achievements as they accepted their awards.
The Ceremony was opened by the School Administrator Mr Frank O'Rourke which was followed by addresses by the Head of School Prof. Agnes Higgins and the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Mary McCarron. Prof Higgins complemented the students on their hard work, commitment and outstanding achievement and thanked the student's families and staff in both TCD and the linked hospitals for their support of the students.
Professor Higgins also paid tribute to the Dean of Health Sciences, Professor Mary McCarron, who is the first woman to be elected Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences in Trinity College Dublin and the first member of the School of Nursing & Midwifery to hold that post.
This year the School recognised Katie Hill who recently received the award of the Oscar Wilde Gold Medal for best essay in the Nursing and Midwifery category of the 2011 Undergraduate Awards of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Undergraduate Awards programme is open to all third level institutions on the island of Ireland and a selection of top universities in the UK, Canada and the US. Katie (student of the Bachelor in Science in Children's and General Integrated Nursing programme) received her Gold medal from the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese at an awards ceremony held in Dublin Castle. In addition, 7 other students were shortlisted for the 2011 Undergraduate Awards and were also presented with letters of recognition.
These students are:
First Name |
Surname |
Result |
Katie |
Hill |
Winner |
Karen |
Kelly |
Shortlisted |
Aifric |
Rabbitt |
Shortlisted |
Aine |
Byrne |
Shortlisted |
Nora |
Vallejo |
Shortlisted |
Laura |
McEntaggart |
Shortlisted |
Anna |
Michael |
Shortlisted |
Silvia |
Snowe |
Shortlisted |
Please see photographs from the ceremony on the School's Flickr site
Works in Progress 2011, Jesenice, Slovenia
Two nursing students recently presented their master work at the annual Works in Porgress event which was, this year, held at Jesenice College of Nursing, Slovenia. Elaine Greer (MSc Palliative Care) and Amy O'Connor (MSc Disability Studies) were accompanied by their supervisors, Dr. Elizabeth Curtis and Dr. Fintan Sheerin respectively. The presentations were very well received. Last year, the Works in Progress was hosted by Trinity College School of Nursing & Midwifery. It has been developed into an ERASMUS Intensive Programme and this will be run in May 2012 by Oslo and Akershus University College, Norway. Any first year master students who are interested in this event, which will be subsidised, are encouraged to contact Dr. Fintan Sheerin or Dr. Elizabeth Curtis.
The Eclipse of Medical and Psychiatric Care: a public lecture by Prof David Healy
Hosted by the TCD School of Nursing & Midwifery
in association with the Irish Institute of Mental Health Nursing
Date: Wednesday 2nd May 2012
Time: 5.00pm
Venue: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, 24 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2
In his address Professor Healy will raise the following questions
- is there is a mismatch between the so called evidence on use of drugs and the real data from studies?
- is the evidence embodied in clinical prescribing guidelines making care invisible and diminishing the relevance of the clinical encounter?
David Healy is a Professor of Psychiatry in Wales and former Secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology. He is author of books such as 'The Antidepressant Era' and 'Let Them Eat Prozac'. David has been involved as an expert witness in homicide and suicide trials involving psychotropic drugs, and has been at the forefront in highlighting problems with these drugs to both American and British regulators.
There is no charge to attend this lecture however it is necessary to book in advance as places are limited
Please contact Jeni Ryan (ryanjen@tcd.ie / 01 8963860) to book a place
We regret that parking is not available for this event
Open Evening to promote Intellectual Disability Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing - Thursday 12th January 2012
The School of Nursing and Midwifery is hosting an Open Evening to promote Intellectual Disability Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing on Thursday 12th January 2012 at 5-7pm in the School of Nursing and Midwifery building, 24 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. All welcome
The Children's Palliative Care Project Presents 'Meeting the Spiritual Needs of Children and Families' An Interactive Workshop with Professor Wilfred McSherry
Wilfred McSherry is Professor in Dignity of Care for Older People at the Faculty of Health, Staffordshire University and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and is Vice President of the British Association for the Study of Spirituality. He is also part time Professor at Haraldsplass Deaconess University College, Bergen, Norway.
Date: Friday 27th January 2012
Time: 14.00 - 17.00
Venue: School of Nursing and Midwifery, 24 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2
Cost: 25 euro includes tea/coffee.
For further details please contact June Murphy/Catherine Tracey