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academies
March 04-05, 2019 | London, UK
European Nursing Congress
Journal of Intensive and Critical Care Nursing | Volume 2
Profile of a Nurse-led Student Medical Centre in a Higher Education Institute. Medical Centre, Institute
of Technology Carlow, Ireland
Theresa Lowry-Lehnen
The Medical Centre: Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland
S
tudent populations continue to grow year-on-year and
so does the demand for student health services in third-
level education. Latest figures show that in the academic year
2016/17 there were 225,628 students in third-level education
in Ireland. The number of full-time undergraduate students has
increased by 10% in the last five years (HEA, 2018).
This presentation profiles a nurse-led, walk-in medical centre
at Institute of Technology Carlow, the third largest of fourteen
Institutes of Technology in Ireland, with a total student
population of 8,400 (ITC, 2018). The Medical Centre operates
term-time and is available to all full-time students and as an
emergency service for staff at the Carlow Campus. There is one
full-time nurse, working 40 hours per week. Visiting doctors
attend for nurse-triaged, appointment-based clinics 1.5 hours
a day, four days a week. Nursing services are provided free
for all students. Doctor appointments are free for General
Medical Services (GMS) patients (medical card, GP visit card,
and Erasmus EHIC card holders) and cost 10 Euro for non-GMS
patients.
This profile outlines the range of medical services provided
at I.T. Carlow medical centre and presents quantitative data
over a three-year period from 2015-2018, on the number of
nurse triage consultations, doctor appointments, nurse-only
appointments, mental health and STI statistics. It also provides
some social demographic statistics collated through GMS and
non-GMS attendance.
In 2017/18, an in-depth Student Services Department PSS
(Professional Support Services) review of all student services
at Institute of Technology Carlow was undertaken. An external
expert panel review followed in May 2018, providing feedback
and recommendations based on the PSS review, inspection
of services and meetings with staff. This profile includes the
findings and recommendations of the PSS and external expert
panel review of the Medical Centre. It highlights the current
high student and staff satisfaction ratings with the medical
service, and considers areas for future development as student
numbers continue to rise.
Speaker Biography
Theresa Lowry-Lehnen is qualified as a specialist practitioner in General Practice Nursing
and a Teacher of Science. She has a PhD in Health Psychology, and has published a
number of books and medical journal articles. Theresa is a graduate of MMUH, The Open
University, NUIM, St. Mary’s Teacher Training University College, London, The University
of Surrey, and is a registered Teacher with the Teaching Council of Ireland. She has over
30 years’ experience in clinical nursing practice, combining her practice with 14 years in
educational, teaching and lecturing roles. Theresa was shortlisted for the ‘Practice Nurse of
the Year’ Award 2018, at the GP National Awards in Ireland, and has recently published a
new book, Practice Nursing: Clinical Guidelines and Procedures in Practice. She is currently
employed as an Associate Lecturer and the full-time Practice Nurse at the Medical Centre,
Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland.
e:
:
nurse@itcarlow.ie