Denis Quinn Principal, Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles and PLC Co-ordinator, Karen Stakelum are delighted to announce that the Nursing/Health Post-Leaving Certificate Sector of the College are currently forging progression Links with Bradford University.  PLC Nursing and Healthcare Teachers, Mary Ryan Maher, Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Thurles, and Ingrid Condell Colaiste Phobail Roscrea recently visited the School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery in Bradford University, Leeds and met with recruitment and academic staff and students in the school of Nursing and Health.

Admission to Nurse training programmes in England is not points driven as it is in Ireland. Students are selected on the basis of personal qualities and suitability. The application process involves writing a personal statement containing information about personal suitability for nursing, providing a reference and doing a group and individual interview. Sue Elson, Lecturer at the College agrees that the QQI Level 5 Nursing Studies course is an excellent preparation for studying nursing in the UK, she feels that the work experience element of the QQI course is invaluable in helping students to build up the skills necessary to pursue a career in nursing or midwifery. Bradford University is a medium sized university and the School of Health Studies have courses in Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.  Irish students studying there have no registration or tuition fees as these are sponsored by the NHS.  Accommodation costs are similar to those in Limerick and Cork but cheaper than Dublin.  Irish students who qualify for maintenance grants in Ireland may bring their grant with them to the UK.

The Teachers met with both English and international students who agreed that the supports for students in the University are excellent.  The on-campus accommodation is three minutes walk from the Nursing building and there are lots of societies and groups to join. As Mary Ryan Maher highlighted, “Bradford University has a friendly and homely atmosphere”.  Ingrid Condell made a presentation to recruitment staff at the University informing them of the structure and content of the QQI Nursing Studies programmes in Thurles and Roscrea . Mary and Ingrid then facilitated a question and answer session after the presentation. “We had a very positive response from staff” she says, “Ingrid and I are both very experienced nurses, and with the support of fellow staff and management, ensure our College programmes are relevant to the current demands of the profession and further education requirements both in Ireland and in the UK.  We provide additional training in Patient Moving and Handling, CPR and First Aid, Hand Hygiene and Elder Abuse Awareness. We very much look forward to strengthening our links with Bradford and other UK universities in the future.”

Karen Stakelum , PLC co-ordinator is also delighted to say that progression links are also currently being established with Irish Colleges (Waterford IT, LIT (Thurles), Athlone IT) for some of the other PLC courses on offer: Business and IT, Childcare ,Sport and Recreation and Art .