Midwifery

Graduate Story
Kate Hodgson

Having worked as a nurse in neonatal units in Christchurch and Wellington hospitals, Kate Hodgson knew she wanted to go on to be a midwife. Once her children were old enough studying for the Bachelor of Midwifery offered by CPIT became a possibility.

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Are you pregnant?

CPIT (Christchurch Polytechnic) is looking for women having a baby between May and November to share this special time with a first year midwifery student. Download more information.

In 2009 CPIT commenced a new midwifery programme that has been jointly developed with Otago Polytechnic, The new programme has been developed as an innovative educational model that will prepare midwives for the future.

CPIT's programme of study for Midwifery is:

Bachelor of Midwifery
Level: 7 - This programme involves three years full time study with 45 weeks of delivery each year. You are able to undertake the majority of your study in your own community through a blended delivery model that includes a range of: learning resources including print, CD and DVD, and online materials, local tutorial groups, distance tutorial opportunities, local midwifery educator support, face-to-face blocks ('intensives') in Christchurch, midwifery practice experiences in rural and provincial areas as well as main centres. The holistic approach taken will give you a good understanding of how to assess the social, psychological, physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs of each woman and her whanau/family, so that you are able to support each woman during her childbirth experience in the way that she wants. The progamme will give you the opportunity to follow at least 25 women and facilitate 40 births in a variety of maternity settings - a requirement for registration as a midwife in New Zealand.

Why should I study the Bachelor of Midwifery at CPIT?

  • Midwives are the main providers of maternity care in New Zealand and in many parts of the country, demand for midwives exceeds supply.
  • A mixture of job opportunities exist for graduates from self employment to employment within hospital or community settings.
  • A holistic approach at CPIT provides students with an excellent understanding of all aspects of midwifery be they physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual or cultural.
  • Students of the Bachelor of Midwifery have access to modern facilities including laboratories and a clinical practice suite and have the opportunity to follow women in a variety of settings.

What are my career options upon completing the Bachelor of Midwifery?

Graduates of the Bachelor of Midwifery have the option to choose how they would like to work. Below are some of the options available to practicing midwives:

  • Self employment
  • Establish a practice with other graduates from the programme
  • Join an existing midwifery practice
  • Take a permanent position working on a roster in a maternity hospital
  • Seek employment in a community setting

What will I study?

The Bachelor of Midwifery offers a wide range of subjects in order to create midwifery graduates with a wide understanding of the field. Subjects include:

  • Midwifery Ways of Knowing
  • Midwifery Practice Skills
  • Sharing the Woman's Experience
  • Bioscience Foundations
  • Women in Aotearoa
  • Sustainable Development
  • Nutrition for Pregnancy and Childbirth
  • Maori Health
  • Midwifery Scope of Practice
  • The Midwife and Newborn Health
  • The Midwife and Collaborative Practice
  • Lactation and Newborn Feeding
  • Pharmacology and Prescribing
  • Women's Health
  • Cultural Competence in Midwifery
  • Rural Midwifery practice

Where will I study?

The Bachelor of Midwifery is part of the School of Applied Sciences and Allied Health and is situated at the City Campus on Madras Street. In addition to the modern laboratories and the simulated hospital ward offered in the School of Applied Sciences and Allied Health, students also have access to an extensive range of campus facilities including:

  • 24 hour computer access with internet and email for current students
  • CPIT's well-resourced library
  • Learning Services
  • Two cafés
  • A health centre offering nursing, medical and counselling services
  • A recreation centre
  • The Christchurch Polytechnic Students Association (CPSA)

Want to find out more?

For further information please make an online enquiry or telephone 0800 24 24 76.