Bachelor of Speciality in Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing

22 January 2020

The aim of the Bachelor of Speciality in Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing (Midwifery) is to educate midwives recognised as responsible professionals who work with women to provide the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, birth and puerperium, as well as directing births under their own responsibility and providing care for the newborn baby and lactating mother. This care includes preventive measures, the promotion and care of normal births, the detection of complications in the mother and child, access to medical care and other appropriate assistance and the execution of emergency measures.

The midwife assumes an important task in counselling and health education, not only for women, but also for families and the community. This work must include pre-natal education and preparation for maternity and may be extended to women’s health, sexual and reproductive health and childcare.

The study programme was published in the Butlletí Oficial del Principat d’Andorra (Official Gazette of the Principality of Andorra) on 13 May 2009 and renewed on 7 June 2023.

This study programme responds to the need of having more professional midwives in the country, expressed by the Ministry of Health and the Andorran Health Care Service (SAAS).

European level:

EHEA’s first cycle

Modality:

on-campus

Load credit:

120 European credits

Duration:

2 academic years

Languages:

Catalan

Calendar:

From May to May

Contact:

Sara Esqué Boldú (sesque@uda.ad)

Admission

Obtaining a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent recognised or approved in the Principality of Andorra, having Andorran nationality or having a residence and work permit, in accordance with the Andorran legal system (as per the qualification creation degree published in the BOPA).
Passing the selection process determined by the University of Andorra. In order to carry out this selection process, a selection committee made up of five members is set up to evaluate the interviews conducted with each of the candidates, their academic records and their CVs. If they pass the first part of the evaluation, the candidates will complete a second part, consisting of a psycho-technical test and an English, Spanish and French test.
- First part:
  - Interview at each candidate, with a value of 20%.
  - Academic transcript assessment, with a value of 35%.
  - Curriculum, with a value of 15%.
- Second part:
  - Psycho-technical test (motivation test), with a value of 15%.
  - Language test (French, English and Spanish), with a value of 15%.
- The candidates who pass the qualification of 5 in the first part of the selection process, will be able to undertake the tests of the second part. Finally, the two candidates with the best qualifications are selected. The selection result is informed by letter to all candidates with the cut-off mark.

Competences

Students who obtain the Bachelor of Speciality in Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing at the University of Andorra will be able to obtain the following competences, among others:

To provide information and advice on family planning.
To diagnose a pregnancy and monitor it during its normal course and to conduct the necessary inspections to supervise the development of a normal pregnancy.
To prescribe or advise on the examinations necessary for an early diagnosis of any risky pregnancy.
To establish a programme for future parents to ensure full preparation for childbirth and to advise them on hygiene and nutrition.
To prescribe certain medications.
To assist the midwife during the development of the labour and to monitor the status of the foetus by using the appropriate technical and clinical means.
To carry out normal births when it comes to a vertex presentation, including, if necessary, the episiotomy and, in the event of an emergency, to perform a breech delivery.
To detect the signs indicating anomalies that require the intervention of a doctor and assist him/her, in the event that he/she intervenes, and to take any urgent measures that are necessary in his/her absence, particularly the manual extraction of the placenta, if necessary, followed by a manual uterine inspection.
To recognise the baby and provide the necessary care, taking all the necessary initiatives in the event of need and to perform, if necessary, immediate resuscitation.
To attend to and supervise the mother’s evolution in the puerperium and provide her with the necessary advice regarding childcare so as to ensure the optimal progression of the baby.
To perform the treatment prescribed by the doctor.
To draw up any reports that are necessary.

Study Programme

The study programme lasts 2 academic years with an annual structure (2 years).
To obtain the Bachelor of Speciality in Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing, it is necessary to obtain the 120 European credits of the educational programme, all of which are compulsory.

Clinical internships account for 70% of the overall teaching. These clinical internships are carried out in the services that depend on the SAAS (Andorran National Health Service) and at the Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital in Lleida. The content of the subjects listed below can be consulted in this link.

Courses	Subjects (taught in Catalan)	Credits	Total
1	Mother and Child Nursing I	13	60
	Mother and Child Nursing Practicum I	14
	Mother and Child Nursing Practicum II	14
	Women and Family Nursing I	4
	Women and Family Nursing Practicum I	12
	Women’s Health Education	3
2	Mother and Child Nursing II	10	60
	Mother and Child Nursing Practicum III	14
	Mother and Child Nursing Practicum IV	14
	Women and Family Nursing II	4
	Women and Family Nursing Practicum II	12
	Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing Services Management and Obstetrical and Gynaecological Law	3
	Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing Research	3
Total			120

Obligatory mobility grant information (in Catalan)

Teaching Staff

Director of the College of Health and Educational Sciences: Virginia Larraz Rada

Head of the School of Nursing: Sara Esqué Boldú (sesque@uda.ad)

The teaching staff of the Bachelor of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing is made up of lecturers with extensive academic and professional experience. Most of the teachers are provided by the Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya. You can find below the University of Andorra teachers that take part in this bachelor’s degree:

Miquel Julià: graduate in Law
Cristina Pérez: Nursing degree, Bachelor of Speciality in Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing

In addition, the Directory of the University of Andorra enables students to search for and access the contact information on the UdA’s teaching, technical and administrative staff.

Career Oportunities

The midwife assumes an important task in health advice and education, not only for the woman, but also for the family and the community. This work should include prenatal education and motherhood preparation and it may extend to women’s health, sexual or reproductive health and childcare. A midwife can practice in any area, including home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units.