This programme is targeted towards:

• Doctors specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology
• Midwives providing ante-natal care
• Radiographers who perform obstetric ultrasound
• General practitioners who provide ante-natal care and perform ultrasound scans in the community

Course Description

The programme will provide both theoretical and practical training, with a significant emphasis on clinical experience, and will cover all the main aspects of pelvic, fertility and early pregnancy ultrasound. The course aims to equip practitioners working with infertile patients with a level of competence in ultrasound scanning that will enable them to understand the indications for ultrasound examinations, perform scans safely and competently, report on scan findings in the clinical context and know when to refer patients for a more detailed assessment.

Modules

Theory of Fertility Ultrasound

This module offers students the opportunity to develop their academic knowledge of infertility and it's application to clinical practice. The module aims to equip practitioners working with infertile patients with a level of knowledge that will enable them to understand the indications for, and importance of, ultrasound examinations. It is designed to provide both theoretical and practical training, with a significant emphasis on clinical experience. Students registered for this module are offered the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the following topics: the normal menstrual cycle; anatomy, physiology and pathology as it relates to the infertile patient; fertility investigations and treatments relative to the management of the infertile patient; the role that ultrasound plays in the investigations of infertility and monitoring of women undergoing treatment.

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the underlying physiology as it relates to infertility;
• demonstrate an understanding of the investigations and treatments associated with the management of infertility;
• evaluate the contribution of ultrasound to the overall management of the patient;
• demonstrate IT skills;
• communicate written information in an effective manner;
• demonstrate an ability to learn independently.

Clinical Practice of Fertility Ultrasound

This module offers students the opportunity to develop high level clinical and academic knowledge of ultrasound and the management of the infertile patient. It aims to equip practitioners working with infertile patients with a level of competence in ultrasound scanning that will enable them to understand the indications for ultrasound examinations, perform scans safely and competently, report on scan findings in the clinical context and know when to refer patients for more detailed assessment.  It is designed to provide both theoretical and practical training, with a significant emphasis on clinical experience.

Students registered for this module are offered the opportunity to study the following aspects of fertility ultrasound: the fundamental principles of ultrasound examinations in the management of fertility: ultrasound assessment of the normal female pelvis and recognition of possible uterine and ovarian pathology; ultrasound assessment and diagnosis during follicle tracking; ultrasound assessment and role in the management of assisted conception; ultrasound diagnosis of normal early pregnancy; ultrasound diagnosis of early embryonic demise; and ultrasound diagnosis of a suspected ectopic pregnancy. Topics covered will stimulate students to investigate issues from a wide variety of perspectives including: communication; clinical history and clinical investigations; protocols and guidelines; ethical and social implications

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• demonstrate high level clinical skills in the performance of fertility ultrasound examinations; 
• apply current theories of ultrasound, basic sciences and communication to their clinical reasoning; 
• justify the contribution of ultrasound to the overall management of the patient;
• self evaluate their performance in the clinical environment; 
• discuss social and ethical implications of fertility ultrasound;
• communicate written information in an effective manner; 
• demonstrate IT skills; 
• demonstrate an ability to learn independently.

Technology of Fertility Ultrasound

This technology of ultrasound module covers all the main technological aspects of pelvic, fertility and early pregnancy ultrasound. The module aims to equip practitioners working with infertile patients with a level of competence in ultrasound scanning that will enable them to understand the indications for ultrasound examinations and perform scans safely and competently, in a manner that will ensure optimal image acquisition. 

It is designed to provide both theoretical and practical training, with a significant emphasis on clinical experience. Students registered for this module are offered the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the following topics: Ultrasound equipment controls; Emmission and reception; Reflection and refraction, Attenuation; Artefacts in ultrasound imaging; Recording of ultrasound images; Safety of ultrasound; and Poster presentation skills.

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• justify parameters selected for relevant ultrasound examinations;
• evaluate technical settings;
• optimise image quality in ultrasound;
• analyse ultrasound safety issues in the clinical context;
• communicate written information in an effective manner;
• demonstrate IT skills;
• demonstrate an ability to learn independently;

The provision of the majority of the lectures through an e-learning structure will allow students to complete training at home, at convenient times.

There is a major emphasis on students achieving a high level of expertise in clinical practice and participants will gain the majority of their clinical experience in their own department, which will allow them to negotiate the most suitable arrangements within each individual workplace.

To ensure this is achieved students must arrange a clinical placement and provide evidence of an agreement to spend a minimum of 300 hours practicing ultrasound in a fertility clinic while undertaking this programme. 

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants should be qualified Nurses or Midwives registered with An Bord Altranais or equivalent, radiographersmust have approval to practiceRadiography in Ireland or Northern Ireland, or equivalent, with a minimum of one year of general experience in nursing, midwifery of radiography.
• Participants must be actively scanning in a fertility clinic and will be expected to attain a high-level of experience in clinical practice. To ensure this is achieved, students must arrange a clinical placement and provide evidence of an agreement to spend a minimum of 300 hours practicing ultrasound in a fertility clinic while undertaking this programme. 

Prior learning

• Students must have completed twelve months working in a fertility clinic, and within that timeframe have had a minimum of three months clinical ultrasound experience, prior to commencing this programme, and provide documented evidence of this.
• Students must provide written evidence of an agreement with a fertility clinic to provide clinical ultrasound experience, including the required number of hours, for the duration of the programme
• Applicants should be qualified Nurses or Midwives registered with An Bord Altranais or the UKCC; or Radiographers with the approval to practice Radiography in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Applicants should have completed one year of general experience in Nursing, Midwifery of Radiography.
• Other applicants may be considered on individual merit but must be actively scanning in a fertility clinic in order to undertake the programme.

• International applicants should contact the academic programme director for a full list of entry requirements.
• A list of FAQs for international applicants is available here.

Important dates & information

• The next intake for this course is January 2013.

How to apply

• Click on the www.ucd.ie/apply link and follow the steps outlined. 
• The “Application Type” is Graduate Taught Courses, and “Admission Term” is Jan 2012-2013. 
• Fill in your personal details, and when asked about the “Programme Choice”, select Fertility Ultrasound Grad Cert Jan PT X471
• Next, enter details of any third level institutions you have attended and professional qualifications you have attained in the “Academic Background” section. Having paid the application fee and received an e-mail receipt, you must continue to complete the application process by pressing “submit”.
• An e-mail confirming successful application will be sent to you within 24 hours. A detailed, step-by step guide to the online application process is available here. You can track the status of your documentation online. Log in to your account & click on your submitted application. This will bring up an application summary.  The application requirements are listed at the end of the summary.
• If you have any problems or queries with the online application process, email: applications@ucd.ie or telephone: + 353 1 716 1142 or 1476.

Programme Administrator

Academic Programme Coordinator

• For more information on course fees please visit the Fees & Grants Office website.
• Fees are correct at the time of writing and subject to change.

*2012 course fees