Health-related courses offered at Cardiff University

1
Health-related courses offered at Cardiff
University
Dental Hygiene and Dental TherapyDentistryMedici
neMidwiferyNursingOccupational
TherapyOperating Department PracticeOptometryPh
armacyPhysiotherapy Diagnostic Radiography
ImagingRadiotherapy Oncology
2
What and where to study

• What Choosing a health course / career
• Where Choosing a University / Where to study
• Course Variations / Useful features
• Getting into University
• Academic/Non-academic criteria
• Personal Statements/References
• Interviews/Additional Tests
• Research

3
Choosing a health course / career
In general

• Interest in people
• Interest in the science of the human body
  (physical and psychological
• Interest in health problems
• Wanting to work as a member of a team
• Guaranteed employment!!

4
Midwifery

• Being interested in the care of the mother and
  the unborn child
• Being involved in the delivery of babies,
  together with providing antenatal and postnatal
  care
• Being able to provide support and education for
  mothers and their partners preparing for
  parenthood

Nursing

• Having the knowledge and skills to be able to
  provide effective care for people with health
  needs, either in an institutional setting or in
  their own homes
• Providing health care for people with a variety
  of minor, acute or long-term illnesses, including
  mental health and learning disabilities
• Being interested in the holistic care of patients

5
Occupational Therapy

• To help those who are temporarily or permanently
  disabled to be as independent as possible in
  their everyday lives, whilst recovering from
  illness (physical or mental) or adapting to
  disability.
• Helping people to solve their own problems /
  helping people to cope.

Operating Department Practice

• To provide clinical care as part of the
  anaesthetic, surgical and post-anaesthesia care
  teams.

6
Optometry

• To be able to test sight and prescribe for
  patients an accurate correction for their
  vision
• To be able to detect diseases that affect the
  eye and the visual system
• To dispense spectacle frames and lenses and
  contact lenses often running a business

Pharmacy

• To be interested in drugs and medicines
  scientific, social and professional aspects
• To understand the clinical uses of medicines
• To be able to dispense medicines and to advise
  the public on the proper administration of their
  medicines often involves running a business
• With additional training, to be able to prescribe
  some drugs (the nearest profession to medicine!)

7
Physiotherapy

• Having the knowledge and skills to be able to
  treat injury and disease by enhancing the bodys
  own natural healing mechanisms
• To be able to relieve pain, aid recovery, restore
  good health and help patients prevent the same
  thing happening again
• A hands-on, physical career

Diagnostic Radiography and Radiotherapy

• Radiography to be able to produce high quality
  images on film and other recording materials,
  helping doctors to diagnose disease and extent of
  injuries
• Radiotherapy to help to treat patients, many of
  whom have cancer, using x-rays, ionising
  radiation and chemotherapy
• Wanting to combine an interest in science and
  technicalwork with caring for people

8
Choosing a University where to study
In general

• City location and environment
• University buildings / proximity to clinical
  facilities
• Research and teaching assessments/university
  ratings
• Type, location and costs of residential
  accommodation
• Students Union facilities/activities
• Friendliness of people
• Recommendations of others
• Gut feeling!

9
Midwifery BMid Bachelor of Midwifery DM
Diploma in Midwifery (NMAS) not in Wales 32
universities offering 3-year courses 1
university offering a 4-year course (Central
Lancashire) 7 universities offering 1-year/2-year
post-registration courses (through UCAS)
(other universities offering this course
direct-entry)
10
Nursing BN Bachelor of Nursing BSc Bachelor
of Science in Nursing DN Diploma in Nursing
(NMAS) not in Wales 51 universities offering
3-year courses 7 universities offering 4-year
courses (5 - Scottish) (20 universities offering
the Learning Disabilities branch
programme) (3-year courses only 10 weeks
holiday per year) Courses comprise 50 theory
and 50 clinical practice Common Foundation
programme (1-year) followed by chosen Branch
programme (2-years) Adult / Child / Mental
Health / Mental Handicap
11
Occupational Therapy B.Sc. Bachelor of Science
in Occupational Therapy 21 universities offering
3-year courses 4 universities offering 4-year
courses (3 Scottish, 1 Ulster) 1 university
offering 2-year graduate entry (York St.
John) Cardiff also offering 4-year part-time
degree course and 2-year Postgraduate Diploma
course direct entry All include 1,000 hours of
practice placements (fieldwork) 3 universities
(approx) offer problem-based learning
including Cardiff and Brunel
12
Optometry BSc Bachelor of Science in
Optometry 5 universities offering 3-year courses
(including 1 also offering a 4-year Foundation
year entry course) 2 universities offering
4-year courses (Scottish) 1 university offering
4-year Masters course 1st year basic science
teaching intro to clinical procedures 2nd
year preparation for patient clinics and
front- line projects 3rd year - direct
clinical contact and hospital visits
13
Physiotherapy BSc Bachelor of Science in
Physiotherapy 29 universities offering 3-year
courses 3 universities offering 4-year courses
(2 Scottish, 1 Ulster) 1 university offering
4-year sandwich course 1 university offering
2-year graduate entry course (Cardiff) All
courses include 1,000 hours of clinical work
placements. Basic skills learned in the
university, practising on fellow-students Patient
contact from year 2
14
Diagnostic Radiography Radiotherapy BSc
Bachelor of Science in Radiography/Radiotherapy R
adiography 21 universities offering 3-year
courses 2 universities offering 4-year courses
(1 Scotland, 1 Ulster) Radiotherapy 10
universities offering 3-year courses 1,000 hours
of clinical work placements. Integration of
academic and clinical education. Clinical
placements build on academic blocks of teaching
15
Getting into UniversityAcademic Requirements
(Cardiff University)
Diploma Courses 5 GCSE passes plus equiv. of
2 A levels grade C Degree Courses GCSE
Maths plus English/Welsh Language grade C (Bs
for Medicine), AA Double Award or AAB separate
sciences for Medicine or Dentistry
Dental Hyg/Ther Dental Nurse qual.or CC A
levels Dentistry AAB at A
level (2 sciences incl. Chem or
Medicine AABc Biol,
both required at AS) Midwifery
CCC at A level Nursing
CCC at A level Occ.Therapy CCC at
A level Op.Dpt.Practice CC at A level
(incl. 1 science) Optometry
AAB at A level (2 sciences) Pharmacy
ABB-BBB at A level (2 sciences)
Physiotherapy ABB at A level (1 biological
subject) Radiography CCD at A
level (incl. 1 science)
16
Non-academic criteria

• Understanding of career/motivation
• Caring attitude/Social Awareness
• Communication skills
• Sense of responsibility and reliability
• Study Skills
• Outside Interests plus
• Empathy
• Honesty and trustworthiness
• Friendliness
• Teamwork skills
• Sensitivity
• Sympathy and understanding
• Ability to meet the academic, physical and
  emotional demands of healthcare training

17
Additional non-academic criteria
Dental Hygiene/Therapy and Dentistry Manual
Dexterity Nursing Caring skills Management
skills Clear understanding of Branch programme
chosen Occupational Therapy Outgoing
personality Problem-solving skills Patience and
tact Inventive and adaptable Real interest in
people and helping them solve their own
problems
Operating Department Practice Enjoy the
challenges offered by pressurised
situations Physiotherapy Fitness/good
health Radiography High level of competence and
confidence in handling sophisticated
technology Physically able to work safely,
quickly and accurately Good health and
reasonably strong lifting people/moving
heavy equipment Patient and calm
18
Personal statements satisfying non-academic
criteria- Work Experience, etc.

• Motivation for Career
• Nursing Homes/Old Peoples Homes
• General Practice/Health Centres
• Hospital wards/portering, etc
• Psychiatric day centres/Rehabilitation centres
• Hospices
• Pharmacies (hospital or retail)
• Hospital Laboratories
• Optometrists
• Dental Practice, Dental Hospital/Community
  Clinics or Laboratories

19
Satisfying non-academic criteria / continued

• Childcare centres
• Centres for people with special needs
• Health-related conferencesNote
• Nursing (Child Branch) Childrens hospital
  ward experience not required (any child contact
  valued)
• Occupational Therapy - Experience with an OT
  not required (view website to be able to
  clearly define OT)

20

• Caring Attitude
• Family responsibilities
• Community Service (CSV)
• Nursing Homes/Old Peoples Homes
• Adults or Children with Special Needs
• Baby-sitting
• Elderly neighbours
• Holiday centres for people with disabilities
• Church or Social Services provision

21

• Social Awareness
• Supermarkets
• Other retail outlets
• Waiter/waitress/hotel work
• Contact with people from other communities/culture
  s

22

• Responsibility
• Family responsibilities
• School/College roles prefect, member of
  school/college Council, Young Enterprise Scheme,
  team leaders of clubs and societies
• Youth Award Scheme/Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• Part-time work or Community Service
  responsibilities
• Leadership/role within outside clubs/societies

23

• Study Skills
• Music examinations
• Attending seminars, conferences, public lectures
• Learning (outside school/college)
• Organisation skills/Time management balancing
  studies and social activities
• Outside Interests
• Music / Sport / Cultural Activities
• Participation in clubs and societies
• Team activities

24
UCAS Reference

• School/college background context
• Applicants study skills (e.g. self-directed
  learning/directed learning)
• Contribution to class
• Contribution to school/college
• Interpersonal skills relevant to career

25
Interviews

• Smart personal presentation
• Familiarization with own UCAS application
• Knowledge of university and course applied for
• Good communication and inter-personal skills
  speak clearly and relate to interviewers
• Realistic knowledge of career positive and
  negative (work experience, reading articles,
  viewing websites)
• Understanding of ethical and clinical dilemmas
  (medicine)
• Knowledge of topical (related) issues
• Demonstrate caring nature and interest in people
• Show enthusiasm, sense of humour
  
  

26
Additional Tests

• Dentistry manual dexterity (some dental
  schools)
• Medicine - BMAT Cambridge, Oxford, Royal Free
  University College - GAMSAT/MSAT
  (Graduate entry) St. Georges
  Hospital M.S., Swansea/Cardiff,
  Nottingham/Derby, Barts The London,
  Kings, - On-line questionnaire
  Nottingham - Other tests under consideration by
  some medical schools
• Occupational Therapy Bring essay to interview,
  Group Discussions
• Operating Department Practice Psychometric tests

27
Research Websites

• Careers www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
• New Generations (Allied Health Professions)
  www.newgenerations.org.uk
• Medical Schools Survey of Academic Requirements
  www.cardiff.ac.uk/medicine/admissions_info OR
• www.ucas.com/candq/curr2000/index.html
• Dentistry www.bda-dentistry.org.uk/
  www.gdc-uk.org
• Medicine www.bma.org.uk/www.gmc-uk.org
• Midwifery www.rcm.org.uk
• Nursing www.nmc-uk.org
• Occupational Therapy www.cot.org.uk
• Op.Dept.Pract www.aodp.org.uk/
  www.proprius.org.uk
• Optometry www.college-optometrists.org
• Pharmacy www.rpsgb.org.uk
• Physiotherapy www.csp.org.uk
• Radiography www.sor.org/