NURS 7034 Midwifery Practice 1

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 401090

Coordinator Beth Peck Opens in new window

Description In this subject students will develop skills for the provision of midwifery care across the childbirth continuum through working with women in a continuity of care model and also practice experience in designated maternity practice areas. Using a woman-centred, primary health care model, students will commence recruitment and follow 10 women throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth and for up to six weeks post birth; and under supervision will provide midwifery care to these women. The subject commences with a one week intensive workshop, to expose the students to an elementary level of understanding and application of midwifery care in the antenatal clinic, antenatal ward, birth unit, postnatal ward and special care nursery in preparation for their employment. Concepts introduced during this intensive week will be covered with more complexity during future subsequent weekly workshops.

School Nursing & Midwifery

Discipline Midwifery

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Co-requisite(s) NURS 7011

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in 4697 Graduate Diploma in Midwifery and be a registered nurse employed in a participating NSW Health Local Health District facility in the position of a midwifery student.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. Communicate effectively with women, and colleagues, in an open and respectful way;
  2. Undertake screening, assessment and care of women during pregnancy, labour and birth and the postnatal period;
  3. Relate anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period to the care of a woman and her newborn/s;
  4. Conduct assessment and care of the neonate;
  5. Demonstrate safe Midwifery standard of practice and capacity to critically reflect on the professional requirements for midwifery practice.

Subject Content

1. Introduction to Midwifery Practice 1
a). Introduction to Midwifery Practice Portfolio
- Midwifery Continuity of care notes
- Reflections on practice
- Midwifery Log of practice experience
- Midwifery starndards for practice
b). Course Handbook
2. Communication
- respectful communication
- Midwifery language for Working with women
- Midwifery terms and acronyms
3. Midwifery Care
- antenatal history collection
- Screening, assessment and Monitoring of Maternal well-being during Pregnancy, labour, birth and during The post birth period
- assessment and Monitoring of fetal welfare in Pregnancy, labour and birth
- assessment and Monitoring of The neonate
- Escalation procedure for deviations from normal
- initiation and support of breastfeeding - An introduction to The specific needs of women with complex pregnancies
- skills to communicate effectively with The woman, her family and others during The childbearing process
- apply legal and Ethical aspects associated with Pregnancy, labour and birth e.g. documentation and consent
- Postnatal assessment and discharge assessment - newborn
4. Midwifery Skills
- communication skills for Working in partnership
- skills of reflecting on practice
- Booking visit and history collection
- Maternal assessment during pregnancy (Calculation of EDB, Abdominal examination, Fetal Heart Rate Auscultation (Pinards, Doppler)
- collection of A labour onset history and assessment during labour, documentation - partogram, and Progress notes
- application and interpretation of CTG (antenatal and labour normal and abnormal parameters)
- vaginal Examination
- use of Nitrous Oxide, heat, water in labour
- mechanism of birth
- birthing on land and in water
- physiological and active third stage
- APGAR assessment, and initial newborn Examination including weight and measurements
- assessment of The woman post birth
- breastfeeding support
- preparation of breastmilk Substitute
- newborn blood Screening, Intramuscular and subcutaneous injections and blood glucose level testing.
- Receiving the baby at LSCS,
- Postnatal assessment and discharge assessment - Maternal
- Examination of The newborn

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Attendance 80% attendance required for workshops S/U Y Individual
AMSAT x 2 Not specified S/U Y Individual
Midwifery Practice Portfolio showing: Midwifery Log of Practice, Continuity of Care - 5 women recruited Not specified S/U Y Individual
Reflection on Practice 750 words S/U Y Individual
Practical Exam: End of session OSCA 30 min S/U Y Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Johnson, R., & Taylor, W. (2010). Skills for midwifery practice (3rd ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone
  • Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H. & Dixon, L. (2019). Midwifery: preparation for practice (4th ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W: Elsevier, Australia
  • Taylor, B. J. (2006). Reflective practice: A guide for nurses and midwives (2nd ed.). Berkshire, UK: Open University Press

Structures that include subject