NURSING students at Technological University of the Shannon will for the first time be able to get clinical experience on placement inside GP clinics.
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the university’s Athlone campus on Thursday with Bellview Clinics which has seven practices across Westmeath and Longford, including Valley Medical in Athlone, and employs 45 GP and nursing and healthcare professionals.
While students at TUS already avail of clinical experience in other community settings, this new collaboration will increase their learning opportunities and widen future career options.
Bellview Clinics offers expertise in preventative care, chronic condition management, mental health support and family medicine alongside specialised services in dermatology and skin health, sexual and reproductive health, minor surgery and sports injury care plus gynaecological services and vaccinations.
The President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane, experienced the clinical expertise for himself on a visit to Valley Medical in Athlone.
Professor Cunnane said: “The Technological University of the Shannon is delighted to enter this agreement with Bellview Clinics.
“This collaboration will not only provide valuable clinical placement experience for students on the BSc (Honours) in General Nursing programme but also will cement a relationship for further projects and connections.
“Collaborating with Bellview Clinics will arm our students with the experience of nursing in a General Practice setting and increases learning opportunities thus widening future career options.
“Ireland’s healthcare environment has changed considerably over the last number of years with greater focus at community level. It is important to increase opportunities at community level for students to see this shift in focus.”
Neil Healy, lead GP and managing partner of Bellview Clinics, welcomed the new arrangement and said: “We are delighted to collaborate with TUS’s Department of Nursing and Healthcare on this initiative.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting medical education while continuing to provide accessible, high-quality care to the community.
“Our group have been supporting the education and training of medical students and doctors for many years and look forward to welcoming nursing colleagues in training.”
Dr Don Faller, Dean of Faculty, Science and Health, TUS, highlighted how the partnership came following other advancements in the student offering, and said: “The yearly intake for the BSc (Hons) in General Nursing student numbers has increased from 50 students in 2022 to an intake of 100 students now.
“The increase in equipment including simulation labs in the Department of Nursing and Healthcare is second to none covering every aspect of modern nursing education.
“The use of Virtual Reality has shown significant potential in transforming nursing education by providing immersive and interactive learning experiences. allowing nursing students to safely practice care scenarios and hone skills before entering employment.”
Anne Cooney, Clinical Allocations Manager, Department of Nursing and Healthcare, TUS, said: “Community clinical placements are an essential component of nursing education, providing students with the opportunity to gain exposure to community nursing care and develop insight, understanding, knowledge and skills in this unique learning environment.
“As numbers of nursing students increase each year, it is more and more important to expose students to wider clinical placement opportunities”
