NURS 7084 Perinatal Care in Practice - Commencing in 2026
Credit Points 10
Coordinator Michelle Eveleigh Opens in new window
Description This subject is centred on using a primary health, with continuity of- care approach to the care of women and their families during transition to parenthood. Students develop midwifery skills working with women in a continuity-of- care model and gain experience in maternity practice areas. The subject commences with a one-week intensive workshop introducing midwifery students to the skills required for the antenatal and birthing environment and application of midwifery care in a maternity setting in preparation for employment. Perinatal skills and concepts introduced during the intensive week will be covered in greater complexity and developed across the semester.
School Nursing & Midwifery
Discipline Midwifery
Student Contribution Band
Check your fees via the Fees page.
Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject
Co-requisite(s) NURS 7083
Restrictions
Students must be enrolled in program 4805 Graduate Diploma in Midwifery.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- Implement plans for safe midwifery practice including screening, assessment and care of women during pregnancy, labour and birth.
- Apply evidence-based knowledge of the biological, physiological, psychological and social needs of women pre-conceptually, during pregnancy, labour and birth and postnatal period to facilitate an optimal experience for the woman.
- Apply knowledge of primary health care and public health policy to facilitate opportunities for health promotion with the woman, her family and community, particularly relating to culturally safe practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD women and their families.
- Communicate with clarity and empathy within the context of midwifery practice including with women, families and colleagues.
- Demonstrate professional requirements for midwifery practice, including safe midwifery standards and appropriate use of available technologies.
- Evaluate maternity outcomes to improve midwifery practice
- Demonstrates safe use of medications in midwifery practice
Subject Content
- Intensive Week Workshop Skills
- Midwifery log of practice experience / Midwifery continuity of care notes / Midwife standards for practice and AMSAT / Professional practice experience guide
- Booking visit, history collection, data information management (obstetric database record keeping), consultation and referral guidelines / Communication skills for working in partnership
- History collection
- Maternal assessment during pregnancy (Calculation of EDB, Abdominal examination, Fetal Heart Rate Auscultation (Pinard, Doppler)
- Use of appropriate digital technologies and devices. Application and interpretation of electronic fetal monitoring and CTG monitoring (antenatal and labour normal patterns and abnormal parameters)
- Escalation procedure for deviations from normal
- Oral health care assessments, physical activity, pelvic floor health
- Anatomy & Physiology across the perinatal period
- human reproduction
- anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy, labour and birth
- fetal growth and development
- newborn growth and development to six weeks
- Midwifery Skills – Antenatal and Birth
- Communication skills for working in partnership
- Skills of reflecting on practice
- Maternal assessment during pregnancy (Calculation of EDB, Abdominal examination, Fetal Heart Rate Auscultation (Pinard, Doppler)
- Collection of a labour onset history, assessment and care during labour, documentation partogram, and electronic progress notes
- Application and interpretation of electronic fetal monitoring and CTG monitoring (antenatal and labour normal patterns and abnormal parameters)
- Vaginal examination
- Use of Nitrous Oxide, heat, water use and immersion during labour
- Mechanism of birth
- Birthing on land and in water
- Physiological and active third stage of labour
- Examination of the placenta
- Apply legal and ethical aspects associated with pregnancy, labour and birth e.g. documentation and consent
- Midwifery Skills – Postnatal
- Communication skills for working in partnership
- Skills of reflecting on practice
- 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
- Postnatal assessment and discharge assessment – Newborn
Special Requirements
Legislative pre-requisites
Legislative requirements would have been attended to by employing NSW Health Local Health District facility or private hospital.
Essential equipment
Computer and internet access.
A student is required to wear closed shoes (covering heels and instep) in the clinical practicum sessions, students who do not wear the correct clothing will be excluded from session.