Carmel Bradshaw

Biography

A midwife and nurse with considerable experience in clinical midwifery, midwifery management and midwifery education. Research interests include: Ascertaining the experiences of women using maternity services and determining what women want from maternity services, Care of women with high risk and/or complicated pregnancies Assessment of clinical skills in a university setting Clinical and competency assessment in undergraduate midwifery education programmes and Management of change in midwifery practice The recent publication of the ‘Midwife Registration Programme Standards and Requirements’ 4th Edition document was led by Carmel at the request of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). This national project involved extensive consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders including maternity services user groups. This was a fantastic opportunity to influence the development and enhancement of midwifery undergraduate education and Carmel is very appreciative of the support and assistance in the production of the document by working party members and by the NMBI and of course by the numerous submissions from all involved in midwifery education and in the maternity services. It is hoped that the newly revised Standards and Requirements for the Midwifery programme will be instrumental in ensuring that our newly prepared midwifery graduates can bring life to the vision of maternity services, recently published in the National Maternity Strategy detailed below “Women and babies have access to safe, high quality care in a setting that is most appropriate to their needs; women and families are placed at the centre of all services, and are treated with dignity, respect and compassion; parents are supported before, during and after pregnancy to allow them to give their child the best possible start in life” (Dept. of Health Creating a Better Future Together National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026)

Research Interest

Research interests include: Ascertaining the experiences of women using maternity services and determining what women want from maternity services, Care of women with high risk and/or complicated pregnancies Assessment of clinical skills in a university setting Clinical and competency assessment in undergraduate midwifery education programmes and Management of change in midwifery practice