School of Nursing & Midwifery Newsletter 2017/18

newsletter

SCHOOL OF

Nursing & Midwifery

2017/18

WELCOME Welcome to the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin. As the leading school of Nursing and Midwifery in Ireland we are committed to the provision of a first rate educational experience for the high quality students that we serve.

community engagement roles. If you wish to learn more about the vision and activities within the School, or you would like to study within the School please contact us; our administrative and academic staff will be glad to help you.

With warm wishes Anne-Marie

We aim to position our nurse and midwife graduates for work at the forefront of cutting edge developments in modern health care building upon a foundation of core values for nursing and midwifery i.e. care, compassion and competence. Our nurse and midwife graduates enjoy a worldwide reputation for excellence and are highly employable undertaking diverse roles at all levels within health systems both nationally and internationally. Key to our success is that our courses are delivered in partnership with several world-class healthcare organisations.

We are the top ranked School of Nursing and Midwifery in Ireland and are ranked 25th in the world by the QS international rankings system. To achieve such an international ranking is a testament to the school’s commitment to a high quality education and research environment and the calibre of the students that we attract. Our researchers have forged research networks and collaborations at national and international levels with different disciplines within and beyond healthcare. Our research endeavours are focused on being cutting edge, evidence-based, user-led, innovative and translatable into enhanced outcomes for healthcare, policy, professional practice, intervention, treatment and service delivery.

The School's Strategic Plan for the next number of years seeks to continually re-invigorate the student and academic experience across our undergraduate, postgraduate, international, research, practice and

Professor Anne-Marie Brady Head of School

Newsletter 2017-18

International Winter and Summer School: January / May 18 Our School welcomed 54 students to our International Winter and Summer School this year. Students from the University of Scranton, Taipei Medical University, Drexel University, University of Pittsburgh and Indiana State University attended the two-week intensive programmes to learn about nursing and healthcare in Ireland.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Mary McCarron, and Vice President of Global Relations, Professor Juliette Hussey, presented the students with their certificates of completion. The response to the programme was very positive and in the words of one student, “This is a life changing opportunity for all participants, one that will enhance us as nurses and the patient care we provide”. We look forward to welcoming more students this coming year.

Attendees at the International Summer School

US visit to Philadelphia and New York In May, the School's Director of International Initiatives, Dr Frances O'Brien and Global Officer, Gráinne Curistan, attended the annual NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Philadelphia. Over 3,500 educational institutions attended the conference allowing engagement with several highly ranked institutions to discuss Study Abroad, short international programmes and research collaboration opportunities.

Directly following the conference, Dr Frances O’Brien and Gráinne Curistan travelled to New York to visit schools of nursing in Columbia University, New York University (NYU) and Yale University to discuss potential education and research collaboration. The visit has resulted in the initiation of research links between Yale, NYU Rory Meyers and Trinity School of Nursing and Midwifery.

L to R: Gráinne Curistan; Associate Professor Victoria Vaughan Dickson; NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing; Dr Frances O’Brien

2

Talk by Professor Burleson Social inventor, Associate Professor Winslow Burleson, visited the school in June to talk about his work in the NYU-X Lab (www.nyu-x.org) which is based in the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. The lab advances transformations in Health, Technology, Education and Innovation and is the leading partner in the five year, $4 million National Science Foundation Research Infrastructure award for the project ‘Development of Experiential Supercomputing: A Transdisciplinary Research and Innovation Holodeck’. Professor Burleson presented work on this project and its applications to smart home and assistive technology for health and well-being, including applications for people living with dementia and their caregivers. The talk was well attended

by Faculty from across College, including Engineering and Computer Science.

SCHOOL OF

Nursing & Midwifery

Alumni Interview: One-to-One with Triona Fortune Why did you decide to study nursing?

I witnessed my grandad being cared for in Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold Cross. Despite the fact that it was one of the old fashioned Nightingale wards, the care he received was amazing. This extended to the care he received as he died, which had a huge impact on me.

They always listened to him, even when he got a bit grumpy. They gave him what he wanted rather than what they thought he needed.

After working abroad and travelling extensively for over seven years I returned home in 1997 to resume my studies. Completing the MSc degree in Trinity opened up so many doors to me and I am happy to report that I still continue to travel extensively.

What are your strongest memories of Trinity?

I loved going into Trinity every week and experiencing the unique ambiance. I also worked full-time but I think as a mature student I appreciated it even more. The class of 2002 worked as a team and completed

assignments together. We played as a team too and had many a happy evening in the Cricket Pavilion, with beer out of plastic glasses!

Which Trinity lecturer had the greatest impact on you?

Róisin Boland, for a number of reasons, she introduced me to quality in healthcare, specifically accreditation; which would become my area of expertise. Róisin was so passionate about her topic and so well prepared for class.

I eventually moved away from nursing and went on to work with Róisin in three different organisations, IHSAB, HIQA and ISQua. What are you doing these days?

My job is varied, based in Dublin, but I’m in a different country every second month. As well as advising on quality and accreditation in healthcare, I work with organisations on strategic and operational planning. I also get to work with other important organisations like the World Health Organisation, most recently in Iran advising on maternal and new-born health standards.

Triona Fortune, MSc (2002) Managing Director, Fortune Quality Accreditation Services (FQAS)

Publications Narratives of Recovery from Mental Illness: the role of Peer support Authors: Professor Agnes Higgins and Dr Mike Watts This book presents research that challenges the prevailing view that recovery from mental illness must take place within the boundaries of traditional mental health services.

While Mike and Agnes accept that medical treatment may be part of some people’s recovery, they argue that mental health problems can also be resolved through everyday social interactions and through peer and community support.

Launch of Career Guide for Newly Qualified Nurses and Midwives in Ireland A team of academics led by Dr Elizabeth A. Curtis developed and edited the first issue of a career guide for newly qualified nurses and midwives in Ireland. The aim of the guide is to assist students transition to being newly qualified health professionals. The guide was written by academics, clinical staff and alumni and contains information that newly qualified nurses and midwives should find useful. The career guide was launched on Wednesday, 6 June, by Professor Ruth Northway OBE and can be found at www.nursing-midwifery.tcd.ie ISSN (electronic version) 2565-5973. The production/ editorial team included Dr Elizabeth A. Curtis, Ms Emma Duffy, Dr Colin Griffiths, Professor Catherine Comiskey, Mr Frank O’Rourke, Dr Fintan Sheerin and Ms Jeni Ryan.

3

Newsletter 2017-18

Research An Evaluation of the Role of the Epilepsy Specialist Nurse

Peter Murphy CEO Epilepsy Ireland, Professor Agnes Higgins, Sinead Matson PhD Candidate Maynooth, Maire White Beaumont Hospital, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy Former Minister of State for Health Promotion, Dr Colin Doherty St James’s Hospital, Joan Donegan PhD Candidate Maynooth, Dr Naomi Elliott.

A research study, called the SENsE Report, was carried out by Professor Agnes Higgins and a team from Trinity, to explore the role, impact and cost effectiveness of the Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (ESN) in Ireland. The study found that the ESNs provide a range of services to people with epilepsy (PWE) including nurseled clinics, rapid access clinics, telephone advisory services and outreach services.

They also reported greater involvement in their care, greater knowledge of epilepsy and related issues and had more confidence to self-manage their condition. This research was funded by Epilepsy Ireland and the Health Research Board and is available at: https://www.epilepsy.ie/sites/www.epilepsy.ie/ files/SENSE%20Key%20findings%20FINAL.pdf

STRENCO

Next Generation Research

Our school was successful in securing over €300,000 in funding for STRENCO, a project to strengthen collaboration between academics and students, service users and practitioners in the field of mental health and in an international context. The project is developing tools to assess multiprofessional competencies for mental health students in an international context. Dr Mark Monahan is leading the project, along with Professor Agnes Higgins, Dr Jean Morrissey, Dr Michael Brennan and Dr Colman Noctor.

Karen Galligan, a PhD candidature in our School, and Professor Catherine Comiskey undertook research on behalf of Tallaght Drug & Alcohol Task Force (TDATF) and Barnardos Lorien Child and Family Service to provide a better picture of the hidden harm to children of parental substance misuse, in order to plan for local service provision. The Next Generation Research was carried out on behalf of TDATF and Barnardos Lorien Child and Family Service. The Research estimated the number of children of parents who misuse substances, including alcohol, across the communities of the TDATF area in order to plan for local service provision.

L–R: Dr Mark Monahan, Johan Mestdagh and Sien Seynhaeve (Vives University), Dr Jean Morrissey, Dr Nina Kilkku (TAMK), Dr Evanthia Sakellari (TEI), Dr Angela Cotton (University of Salford), Katja Raitio (JAMK), Dr Colman Noctor, Anne Kivimäki (TAMK) and Professor Anne Marie Brady

4

The research found that as many as 15% of children in the community are at risk of being impacted by illegal drug use.

In addition, almost one child (0.88%) is known to be potentially affected for every person attending drug/alcohol services.

In relation to alcohol, the study predicted that 14-37% of children are possibly impacted by alcohol dependency in the area which equates to between 2,870 and 7,382 children in the area. The full report is available at: http://tallaghtdatf.ie/

Professor Catherine Comiskey

SCHOOL OF

Nursing & Midwifery

Healthcare Researchers to Tap into Artificial Intelligence for Innovative Solutions The Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation (TCPHI) is expanding its research collaboration with IBM Research Ireland. This will see TCPHI researchers work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts from IBM Research Ireland to advance a programme of research focused on finding effective and innovative solutions for integrated care and selfmanagement in healthcare. The programme seeks to advance the understanding of applying AI to help interpret, in real-time, the vast volume of data and patterns captured from patients via smart and embedded medical devices. The analysis of such data, at scale, has the potential to transform clinical decision-making across the continuum of healthcare delivery. The “TCPHI has been particularly successful

in developing research collaborations with industry and this has culminated in the Memorandum of Understanding

between the centre and IBM Research Ireland which was signed on 21 May.

The Impact of Peer-Led Mental Health Services in the Community Research exploring the impact of peer-led mental health projects in the community was launched by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee.

The research documented the development and impact of two of Ireland’s long-running community based peer-run projects, Gateway in Rathmines, Dublin and Áras Folláin in Nenagh, Tipperary. Working in partnership with two peer researchers from Gateway and Áras Folláin, a team of Researchers from the School of Nursing and Midwifery collected qualitative and quantitative data from service users and other internal and external stakeholders to the projects. The study findings demonstrate that the projects had a positive impact on participants’ personal and clinical recovery, overall emotional well-being, hope for the future, self-confidence, self-worth, coping

L–R: Dr Rebecca Murphy, Carmel Downes, Helen McEntee Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Catherine Corrigan Gateway, Angie Lindenau Áras Folláin and Professor Agnes Higgins

and help-seeking skills. The report also highlights the substantial financial instability experienced by the projects due to weakened funding streams in the community sector.

The study is available at: http://www. mentalhealthireland.ie/wp-content/ uploads/2016/12/Impact-of-Peer-Led-MentalHealth-Support-in-the-Community.pdf.

5

Newsletter 2017-18

Appointment to the National Oversight Committee Professor in Healthcare Modelling in the School, Catherine Comiskey was appointed by Minister Catherine Byrne as the sole Academic Expert to the National Oversight Committee responsible for the implementation of the New National Drug Strategy 2017-2025. The Irish Government launched ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025’.

Speaking about her appointment, Professor Comiskey said, “I am honoured to be appointed

by Minister Byrne to this position and I look forward to working with the committee to implement the new strategy for the benefit not only for people who use drugs and alcohol but their families, their communities and all those who support this health-led response."

Appointment to Mental Health Reform Congratulations to Professor Agnes Higgins on being appointed Chairperson of Mental Health Reform. Mental Health Reform is Ireland’s leading national coalition of organisations campaigning to transform mental health and well-being supports in Ireland and provides a unified voice driving progressive reform of mental health supports in Ireland.

Head of School Appointed to Professorial Chair Congratulation to Professor Anne-Marie Brady who has been appointed to Chair of Nursing & Chronic Illness. Anne-Marie received her MSc from North Eastern University in Boston and PhD from Trinity. She joined the School in 2002 and is now Head of School and a Principle Investigator with Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation. A Registered General Nurse, she has over 30 years of clinical practice, education and research experience in nursing and health care management in Ireland and abroad. Her research focuses on producing and evaluating complex interventions and innovation in care for people who live with chronic illness. This jointly funded professorship in conjunction with St James Hospital and Tallaght Hospital will seek to develop a research program focused on innovating care for people living with chronic illness. Demand for healthcare has increased exponentially as a result of individuals living longer with chronic illness and surviving conditions like cancer; this has produced considerable complexity in terms of integration of care and timeliness of response for health services. Recent research undertaken

by Professor Brady and her team into persons

6

with dementia and cancer survivors has revealed considerable unmet needs across the continuum of care, due to challenges in providing integrated and patient centred care in constrained modern health services. We are successfully treating and caring for people suffering from chronic illnesses and preventing deaths that would have occurred in previous generations but unmet needs is an unfolding area of chronicity and a research concern.

Increased numbers of people now survive but are left to cope with the lasting and challenging effects of their treatment. The emerging view is that dependency on hospitals to provide care to ever increasing numbers of older people and those living with chronic illness or cancer is no longer feasible. At the core of healthcare reform is a realisation that it is time for a fundamentally new approach to the organisation of healthcare work. Professional role boundaries in the future will be more fluid so care can be optimized for service users.

The need to develop evidence based and innovative ways to deliver healthcare at the lowest point of acuity has informed Professor Brady’s research agenda.

Professor Anne-Marie Brady

SCHOOL OF

Nursing & Midwifery

News and Events Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence The School hosted its 21st birthday celebration on Tuesday, 9 January, with an event marking 21 years of national and international excellence and leadership in nursing and midwifery education and research.

The day brought together past and present members of staff and the student body, as well as representation from the Health Service Executive, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and the School’s clinical partners.

The School was honoured to host three distinguished speakers; Professor Mary McCarron, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Linda Aiken, the Claire Fagin Professor of Nursing and Professor of Sociology, and Dr Susan Kent, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Health Service Executive.

School staff, guests and colleagues at the Launch Event Celebrating 21 Years of National and International Excellence and Leadership in Nursing and Midwifery Education & Research.

The School also held a number of Symposia, Seminars and continued its successful “Tell Me About” Public Lectures series as part of its 21st birthday celebrations during the recent academic year. Further information about the

School’s 21st birthday events and forthcoming School events can be found at http:// nursing-midwifery.tcd.ie/events-conferences/ celebrating-21-years-events/index.php

New State of the Art Clinical Learning Simulation Suite Opened Nurse and Midwifery education has evolved over the years, and one of the most recent innovations is the introduction of simulated learning environments. Nursing and Midwifery students at Trinity will now be able to carry out a broad range of clinical procedures and scenarios for acute and community adult nursing, child nursing, mental health nursing, midwifery, paramedic and operating department practice at the new Trinity Simulation Suite which was opened at the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences on the St James’s Hospital campus on 26 June.

Combining the latest innovation in simulation mannequins, live-streaming video debriefing and evidence-based practice, simulated learning allows students to practice clinical skills in a safe, structured environment under the guidance of qualified discipline-specific, clinical nurse tutors.

Students will be monitored through an observation room and sessions will be recorded for student self-assessment.

The opening of the new simulation suite took place at the closing ceremony of the

L–R: Eileen Whelan (Chief Nurse, Dublin Midlands Hospital Group), Freda Neill (Trinity), Professor Anne-Marie Brady (Trinity), Professor Mary McCarron (Trinity)

School's 21st year celebrations. Speaking at the event Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Mary McCarron said: “It is appropriate that this latest innovation in clinical education is being launched as we celebrate our 21 years in nursing at Trinity. 21 years ago Trinity introduced the first degrees in nursing and we gather here

today, celebrating the contribution of all our staff, students and graduates, both past and present, to nursing in Ireland and all over the world. We continuously strive to improve nursing education, and today’s opening of the Simulation Suite is yet another milestone in doing so.”

7

Newsletter 2017-18

New Nursing and Midwifery Badge Launched The newly designed Trinity College Dublin Nursing and Midwifery Badge was launched on 26 June. The badge was designed

by Professor Paul Horan with the aim of enhancing Trinity’s identity in terms of nursing and midwifery education and research at home and abroad. It will be worn by Trinity alumni on their professional nursing and midwifery uniforms. Moving forward, all nursing and midwifery graduates will receive the badge as part of commencements ceremonies and plans are being developed to distribute badges to all alumni. Further details of how alumni can get these badges will be published during this academic year.

Annual School Awards 2016-17 In November 2017, the School, hosted its Annual School Awards. The School Awards were established in order to celebrate the academic achievements of our students. 35 awards were presented to the top students across a wide range of courses. Students' family, friends, staff and linked Health Service providers were present to celebrate these students' achievements as they accepted their awards.

Launch of Suite of Resources to Support Women Experiencing Perinatal Mental Health Issues The HSE’s Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) launched Mind Mothers, which is a suite of resources for nurses and midwives who care for women experiencing perinatal mental health issues, at the National Perinatal Mental Health Conference in September 2017. Mind Mother’s sets out best practice principles

and is an educational e-learning tool for midwives, public health and practice nurses and was developed by the research team in the School led by Professor Agnes Higgins. Other members of the research team included Associate Professor Margaret Carroll, Assistant Professor Mark Monahan, Ms Carmel Downes and Ms Ailish Gill.

Members of the Trinity research team and steering group at the launch

8

The Mind Mother’s resources are available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse. ie/eng/about/Who/ONMSD/NMPDU/ NMPDDN/publications.html and the e-learning programme will be available for staff to access on www.HSELand.ie

SCHOOL OF

Nursing & Midwifery

Conferences Celebrate Nursing Care for People with Intellectual Disability

from the UK and also the attendance of The Shiners, a group of people with intellectual disabilities and their families from Cornwall making their first aeroplane trip to attend.

Provost Patrick Prendergast opened the conferences and delegates were then addressed by Chief Nurse of the Department of Health, Dr Siobhan O’Halloran; Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Trinity, Professor Mary McCarron; President of the Royal College of Nursing (UK), Ms Cecelia Anim CBE; and Professor Ruth Northway OBE. Both Professor McCarron and Dr Siobhain O’Halloran are registered intellectual disability nurses.

L–R: Support worker Laura Barnes, Professor Paul Horan, Professor Mary McCarron, Louis Benney (TIME2SHINE), Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast, Dr Siobhan O'Halloran (Department of Health)

As part the of the School 21st Birthday celebrations, two conferences were hosted simultaneously in April 2018 to celebrate the contribution of nursing to the care of people living with intellectual disabilities. The 14th International Positive Choices Intellectual/ Learning Disability Student Nurse Conference 2018, ran alongside the inaugural Positive

Commitments International Conference for qualified intellectual disability nurses.

The conferences brought together 500 delegates, included leading professionals and academics in the arena of Intellectual disability nursing from across Ireland and the UK. Of particular note was the performance of MIxit, a Learning Disability Theatre group

Both conferences explored the latest intellectual disability research, innovations and advanced practice guidance in nursing care for people with intellectual disabilities.

The conferences was a collaborative effort involving The Positive Choices Team UK led by the recent MBE recipient Helen Laverty of Nottingham University; Debra Moore, Debra Moore Associates; Rebecca Hill, Positive Commitments; Professor Paul Horan; and a group of intellectual disability nursing students in Trinity.

The conferences remarkably achieved a twitter audience of 9.5 million.

Trinity’s Professor Mary Mc Carron opens Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability The School was delighted to celebrate the significant milestone in the IDS TILDA journey with the launch of the Trinity Centre for Aging and Disability in September 2017.

Congratulations to Prof Mary McCarron and her team on this tremendous success. This body of work is the culmination of Professor McCarron's vision to create a research programme in collaboration with both service users and providers that will have lasting and meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability. https://www.tcd.ie/tcaid/

Attendees at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of IDS-TILDA and launch of the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability.

9

Newsletter 2017-18

Exploring LGBT Ageing and Inclusive Health and Social Care

Group of researchers, clinicians and volunteers in Amersfoort

MOOC Launched

by Centre for Aging and Intellectual Disability The Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability at Trinity launched a new Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) geared towards healthcare professionals, care providers and others who work with people with an intellectual disability.

Presidents Prize Trinity alumna Amanda Drury was awarded the Presidents Prize at the annual conference of the Irish Association of Oncology Nurses for her presentation on the results of her research on the quality of life outcomes of colorectal cancer survivors.

This prestigious prize grants Amanda a bursary, sponsored by Bayer Oncology, to visit a world leading comprehensive cancer centre, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York. Amanda was recently appointed to the

The first iteration of the course which finished in February of this year had 1,853 joiners and 1,009 learners of which 71.3% were active learners and over 50% completed the course.

On evaluation of the course 87% of respondents reported that they had changed their practice as a result of the course. In total, 79% of respondents reported the course had contributed to their day to day work with people with an intellectual disability. There are plans to run another iteration of the course later this year. To register for Trinity’s free online course, please visit: https://www.futurelearn.com/ courses/health-assessment/

10

As part of the Erasmus+ funded cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices programme, a group of researchers, clinicians and volunteers headed to Amersfoort in the Netherlands to discuss best practices in the provision of health and social care for older LGBT people. The project called ‘Being me’ brings together representatives to share ideas about how health and social care can be more responsive to the needs of LGBT people as they get older. This first meeting sought to learn first-hand from older LGBT peoples experience as well as consulting with health and social care staff. For updates and progress follow @beingme_project

Amanda Drury (middle) at the Presidents Prize awards

European Cancer Nursing Society Research Working Group. She began the role in May this year, participating in a lobbying event at the European Parliament to gain recognition of cancer nursing as a specialisation across Europe, supporting dissemination of the results of the Recognising European Cancer Nursing (RECaN) project, led by the European Cancer Nursing Society and supported by the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO).

SCHOOL OF

Nursing & Midwifery

School of Nursing & Midwifery Trinity Scholars announced The School would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Senior Freshman Nursing & Midwifery students who were awarded the Foundation Scholarship Award. These highly prestigious awards have a long-standing history in Trinity and requires students to display a breadth of knowledge beyond their standard coursework. In addition to the prestige of the award, Scholars are entitled to free fees, free university accommodation, free Commons and receive approximately €250 per annum.

The 2018 Scholars were Suzanne Gaffney and Sofia O’Byrne (midwifery); Temilade Adefeko and Hannah Coakley (general nursing); Zoe Fitzmauruice, Caoimhe Harold, Damilola Olaniyi (children’s and general nursing).

Congratulations to all students to took part.

Temilade Adefeko reacting to the announcement that she is a 2018 scholar

Fear of Litigation is a Key Factor in Decision to Perform C-sections Fear of litigation and perceived safety concerns are among the key factors influencing the decision to perform a caesarean section, according to a major international literature review conducted by researchers at the School.

The rising rate of caesarean sections (CS) worldwide, despite the considerable evidence that vaginal birth is safer and associated with fewer complications, is a growing concern among women and healthcare professionals.

In a systematic review of 34 international studies conducted in 20 different countries, researchers have found that ‘clinicians’ beliefs’ are the main factor influencing obstetricians’ and midwives’ decisions to perform CS. These beliefs were mostly related to clinicians’ personal preferences, an over-estimation of the degree of risk associated with vaginal birth or vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC), and caesarean sections being seen as a safe and convenient option.

Fear of litigation and professional agreements and disagreements were identified as key factors in the decision-making process, according to the study, published recently in the journal, PLOS ONE. Insufficient human and physical resources, lack of unified guidelines,

financial benefits to the hospital, and private versus public health care facilities were also influencing factors, ultimately contributing to the rise in rate of CS, according to the authors.

The systematic review, part of a Health Research Board-funded study, describes the views of 9,008 midwives and obstetricians obtained from research conducted over the 24-year period from 1992 to 2016. It provides in-depth understanding of clinicians’ views of the factors that influence the decision to perform a CS and so will be of significant benefit to policy-makers seeking to improve and promote normal births and reduce CS rates.

Lead author, Sunita Panda, PhD candidate and Health Research Board Research Fellow at the School commented: “Caesarean section rates are increasing worldwide, particularly among first-time mothers, with limited explanation of the factors that influence the rising trend. This is a big concern for healthcare professionals because vaginal birth is safer and associated with fewer complications. Our research is the first systematic review of international research on the topic and it gives important insight into the ‘why’ behind the rising rate of CS.

Our study identified the significant influence of ‘fear of litigation’ on clinicians’ decision to perform CS, irrespective of hospital setting, age, gender, professional experience, resources and culture within the healthcare system.”

Assistant Professor Dr Deirdre Daly, the supervisor of the PhD work, added: “It is really important to understand these factors because they influence individual clinicians’ attitudes towards the natural progress of labour and spontaneous birth, even when the woman and baby are well and have no risk factors. This then leads to the decision to intervene prematurely, often without medically justifiable reasons.”

11

Postgraduate Programmes The School of Nursing and Midwifery offers a comprehensive suite of nursing and midwifery courses in addition to a number of interdisciplinary courses suited to a range of healthcare professionals. Of note, courses starting in September 2018 include: • M.Sc./P. Grad. Dip./P. Grad. Cert. in Nursing – Advanced Practice (ANP) • M.Sc./P. Grad. Dip. in Ageing Health and Wellbeing in Intellectual Disability • (Online) P. Grad. Cert. in Ageing Health and Wellbeing in Intellectual Disability • M.Sc./P. Grad. Dip. in Dementia • M.Sc./P. Grad. Dip./P. Grad. Cert. in Community Health (Interdisciplinary)

• (Online) P. Grad. Cert. in Dementia • M.Sc./P. Grad. Dip./P. Grad. Cert. in Nursing – Child Health and Wellbeing We offer flexibility by alternative pathways for progression from P. Grad. Cert. to P. Grad. Dip. level to M.Sc. level within its M.Sc. programmes as well as the more traditional P. Grad. Dip to M.Sc. pathway. The choice of award pathway depends on prior academic achievements and professional registrations and are arranged on an individual basis. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the School to discuss individual requirements.

Please visit www.nursing-midwifery.tcd. ie/postgraduate/ for further information and closing dates for all of our courses.

Forthcoming Events The school will be hosting a range of events including workshops, conferences and the popular, free to attend “Tell Me About” public lectures series, throughout the 18-19 academic year.

All details on events and how to register are available on: http://nursing-midwifery.tcd.ie/eventsconferences/events-listing.php

Trinity Alumni Online As a Trinity graduate, we'd like to help you make the most of being part of a community of over 115,000 Trinity graduates around the world. We know how important it is for our alumni to stay connected and how valuable networking and mentoring opportunities can be for career advancement. With this in mind,

we would like to invite you to join our new platform, Trinity Alumni Online. This platform will help you to connect with fellow alumni as well as current Trinity students, allowing you to give and receive career advice. It’s easy to use and a great way to stay connected to Trinity.

To register go to www.trinity.aluminate.net

Get Involved

Upcoming Events

Class Notes

Trinity has a long tradition of outreach and community engagement. To find out about the numerous ways you can get involved with Trinity both at home and abroad, please visit www.tcd.ie/alumni/volunteer

Christmas Commons 5 and 12 December 2018

Do you have any news or updates that you would like to share with your fellow alumni?

Submit your news with an image, subject of study and year of graduation to alumni@tcd.ie

Alumni & Friends Carol Service 6 December 2018 Homecoming 20 December 2018

For more information please visit http://tcd.ie/alumni/classnotes

Other Events www.tcd.ie/alumni/events

www.nursing-midwifery.tcd.ie

Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery 24 D'Olier Street Trinity College Dublin Dublin 2, Ireland T. +353 (0)1 896 2692 E. nursing.midwifery@tcd.ie www.facebook.com/TCD.Nursing.Midwifery/