UL Hospitals Group Education and Research
Academic Partner
Our academic partner is the University of Limerick (UL).
UL provides undergraduate and postgraduate education and training across campuses and disciplines. They help us to attract and retain health professionals of the highest calibre. There are many joint clinical-academic appointments.
UL contributes to the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the clinical services we deliver to our patients. They do this by conducting research designed to answer clinically important questions. They promote interdisciplinary learning and contribute to good governance.
Emergency Department Research at UHL
ALERT (Limerick - Education, Research, Training) is an Emergency Medicine and Nursing group based in the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick. The research group is led by Consultants in Emergency Medicine, Prof. Fergal Cummins and Associate Prof. Damien Ryan.
The wider group includes all team members in the ED. Over 30 Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Design Engineers, Researchers and Pre-Hospital Care teams collaborate on projects with ALERT. The team strives to improve the patient experience by researching factors affecting our patients, to influence and shape best practice. ALERT has strong research links with academic partners in UL and UCD and professional bodies such as the European Society for Emergency Medicine. The forerunner of ALERT was REDSPoT (Retrieval, Emergency and Disaster Medicine Research and Development Unit).
The team currently oversees not only Research, but Audit and Quality Improvement Projects. These projects focus on improvements in patient care, process and innovation within the ED. Educational and Simulation based training is also promoted via ALERT. A full-time Clinical Research Nurse post has been created and is fully supported by the hospital group.
For more information contact: Damien.ryan@hse.ie
UL School of Medicine
The UL School of Medicine offers a
The students rotate through the disciplines of Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Psychiatry as well as Obstetrics and Gynaecology. They do this throughout the academic year across UL Hospitals Group sites.
The UL School of Medicine offers 2 Paramedic Studies programmes, one for Practitioner Entry and one for Undergraduate.
Nursing and Midwifery
The Department of Nursing and Midwifery at UL offers undergraduate degrees. The four-year, full-time degree programmes take place in conjunction with UL Hospitals Group. The department also provides a post registration Higher Diploma in Midwifery.
Undergraduate students get placements in our hospitals in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary. Midwifery students undertake some practice placements in Clonmel, Kilkenny and Waterford hospitals.
Clinical Placement Coordinators (CPCs) for nursing and midwifery (CPCM) support undergraduate students and staff. They ensure that the hospitals provide quality clinical learning environment. They work with UL to achieve this. Registered nurses and midwives guide and supervise students. Registered nurses and midwives guide, supervise and assess students.
The Allocations Liaison Officer (ALO) liaises with UL and Clinical Placement Coordinators. The ALO plans and co-ordinates clinical placements.
The Higher Diploma in Midwifery is a 78 week full time sponsored course enabling nurses to change career and become midwives. Students are employed by the University Maternity Hospital limerick for their placements while also being students in UL.