92373 Midwifery Practice 6: Transitions to Being a Midwife
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Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 92369 Midwifery Practice 5: Emergencies in Maternity Care
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
Students in this subject work in simulated learning environments to learn and further develop the requisite midwifery practice skills before midwifery registration.
Students also engage in midwifery practice and have the opportunity to reflect on their practice, formulating plans for continuous professional development. In the midwifery practice setting, students implement care based on clinical decisions developed in collaboration. In this subject, students are expected to finalise their midwifery continuity of care experiences and all midwifery practice assessments in preparation for registration.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Assess, plan, implement and evaluate midwifery practice (NMBA 1.4, 1.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.2, 5.4) |
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| B. | Administer medications safely, and demonstrate competency in drug calculations (NMBA 3.6, 3.7, 5.3, 5.4, 6.2, 6.3) |
| C. | Interpret and respond to non-reassuring fetal wellbeing assessments (NMBA 3.1,3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 5.3, 5.4) |
| D. | Demonstrate the ability to undertake venepuncture and cannulation in a simulated environment (NMBA 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 5.3, 5.4 ) |
| E. | Perform perineal suturing in a simulated environment (NMBA 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 5.3, 5.4) |
| F. | Demonstrate appropriate competency in midwifery practice (NMBA 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) |
| G. | Reflect on clinical experiences and provide rationale for care provision (NMBA 6.1, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3) |
| H. | Complete midwifery continuity of care experiences (NMBA 5.2, 5.3, 5.4) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Practice woman-centred care (1.0)
- Demonstrate woman centred care acknowledging the physiological, psychological, cultural and spiritual needs of women, their babies and family members (1.1)
- Appreciate the centrality of the relationship with each woman to the practice of midwifery (1.2)
- Promote continuity of midwifery care regardless of settings (1.3)
- Provide an optimal child-bearing environment for each woman (1.4)
- Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness (2.0)
- Have a sound and thorough knowledge base about anatomy and physiology (2.1)
- Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines (2.2)
- Communicate effectively using spoken, written and non-verbal language across a range of contexts and to diverse audiences (2.3)
- Utilise information technologies with a high level of literacy (2.4)
- Demonstrate competence in all clinical skills at the level of a new graduate midwife and be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for registration as a midwife (2.5)
- Influence change and contribute to the development of midwifery as a strong profession through leadership, mentoring and positive role modelling (3.1)
- Demonstrate respectful and collegial collaboration with women, professional peers and other stakeholders (3.2)
- Participate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team (3.3)
- Practice and promote the principles of self-care that build resilience and foster human flourishing (4.1)
- Practise midwifery within a primary health care philosophy (5.1)
- Communicate and provide effective care for women from diverse backgrounds and needs (5.4)
- Interpret and value the evidence to underpin practice and influence change (6.1)
- Integrate strategies for ongoing personal and professional development (6.2)
- Actively contribute to the development of midwifery as a profession (6.3)
- Critique and reflect upon the impact of ongoing colonisation and its pervasive discourse on Indigenous Australians and their health and wellbeing (7.2)
- Recognise the diversity of Indigenous Australians and integrate this knowledge into practice (7.3)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Woman centred care
In this subject, students will complete their continuity of care experiences that demonstrate woman-centred care acknowledging the physiological, psychological, cultural and spiritual needs of women, their babies and family members. Students will appreciate the centrality of the relationship with each woman to the practice of midwifery and promote continuity of midwifery care regardless of settings providing the optimal child bearing environment for each woman.
Professional competence
This subject requires students to work towards professional competence as midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness. Students will consolidate their learning in this subject and have a sound and thorough knowledge base about anatomy and physiology. They will demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines. Students will be able to communicate effectively using spoken, written and non-verbal language across a range of contexts and to diverse audiences. At the completion of the subject students will demonstrate competence in all clinical skills at the level of a new graduate midwife and be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for registration as a midwife.
Collaboration
Students will be able to collaborate in order to provide excellence in maternity care. Through specifically designed learning activities students will participate effectively as a member of an inter-disciplinary health care team, through respectful and collegial collaboration with women, professional peers and other stakeholders. At the completion of the subject students will be in a position to influence change and contribute to the development of midwifery as a strong profession through leadership, mentoring and positive role modelling.
Professional engagement
In this subject, students will build on and consolidate their professional engagement as critical thinkers who take a lively and questioning approach and embrace lifelong learning. At the completion of the subject students will be able to interpret and value the evidence to underpin practice and influence change. They will integrate strategies for ongoing personal and professional development and actively contribute to the development of midwifery as a profession.
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage you to engage with contemporary, evidence-based midwifery care and practice.
Learning modules and workbooks
The subject benefits from the provision of online learning modules and workbooks as preparation for learning in the clinical simulation laboratories and clinical practice.
Tutorials
Tutorials are provided to enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts. The tutorials are supported by learning activities and followed up in group discussions.
Clinical Skills, communication and simulation
Students participate in simulated practice of clinical skills used in midwifery practice, including the safe administration of medications and competency in drug calculations. Students also participate in assessing fetal welfare and responding to abnormal fetal heart rate patterns through simulation and online discussion. Simulated activities include the use of mannequins, teaching staff or other students as simulated women. Students learn and engage in clinical and interpersonal skills with case scenarios in the classroom. These scenarios incorporate the development of professional communication skills including consultation and referral to medical colleagues. Students' development of clinical skills in providing midwifery care for women includes venepuncture, cannulation and perineal repair in simulated practise with mannequins. Readiness for practice is assessed through simulation, case studies and reflection on providing continuity of care for a woman using the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Standards for the Midwife. Students complete and submit their Professional Experience Practice (PEP) Portfolio and AMSAT.
Clinical placement
In this subject students complete 232 hours of clinical placement experience. Under supervision, students provide midwifery care to women and their families within multi-disciplinary teams to develop and consolidate their knowledge, skills and attributes.
Content (topics)
Medication administration
- Revision of pharmacology and medication administration
- Drug calculations
- Responsibility in relation to medication administration
- Consultation and referral in relation to medication administration
- Documentation of medication administration
Assessment of fetal wellbeing
- Revision on continuous electronic fetal monitoring
- Problems in the assessment of fetal wellbeing
- Responsibility for clinical assessments in relation to fetal wellbeing
- Consultation and referral in relation to the assessment of fetal wellbeing
- Documentation of fetal wellbeing
Midwifery practice skills
- Perineal repair workshop and practice of skills in simulation setting
- Cannulation and venepuncture in simulation setting
Responsibility, accountability and leadership
- Reflection on the responsibility and accountability that comes with being a midwife
- Understanding of the need for responsibility and accountability and how this is articulated in practice
- Reflection on the leadership role that the midwife plays in health care and consideration of your place in the future of the profession
- Understanding of supporting students through adult learning principles and group skills
Quality and safety
- Communication skills
- Clinical handover
- Documentation
- Consultation and referral including escalation of care
- Recognition and response to clinical deterioration
- Recognition of the importance of continuity of care for all women
- National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Assessment 1 - Medication Safety
| Intent: | PART A - The intent is to develop competence regarding the safe administration of medications to women and babies in their care. Using the eLearning package 'Med+Safe' students are required to complete set assessments and demonstrate competency in the safe administration of medications. Students to ensure they have access to Intellilearn Maths Package and have completed the practice packages prior to the online quiz. PART B - This medication quiz, completed during scheduled laboratory time, will enable the student to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and safety focus regarding medications used in the maternity setting. The student will be encouraged to reflect critically about medications used in the maternity setting, the medication scope of use and intended action on the relevant body system. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, F and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 5.4, 6.2, 6.3, 7.2 and 7.3 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | PART A PART B |
| Criteria: | Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of safe and effective administration of medications. |
Assessment task 2: Assessment 2 - K2 Fetal Welfare Learning Pathway
| Intent: | This assessment is intended to further develop students' critical midwifery skills and consolidate their clinical learning using evidence-based resources. Students will provide documented evidence of completion of an online fetal welfare Learning Pathway. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, C, F and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 6.1 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | All modules as instructed above and allocated in K2MS, to each student, for completion online. |
| Criteria: | K2MS will provide students with feedback. The assessments must be achieved with a minimum mark of 80%. All five (5) SIM cases need to achieve a minimum mark of 70% agreement with the simulator. |
Assessment task 3: Assessment 3 - GynZone Learning Pathway
| Intent: | This assessment is intended to further develop students' critical midwifery skills and consolidate their clinical learning using evidence-based resources. Students will provide documented evidence of completion of an online GynZone perineal care and repair Learning Pathway. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): F, G and H This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | All modules as instructed above and allocated in GynZone, to each student, for completion online. |
| Criteria: | Quiz answers will be available within the relevant quizzes on GynZone. No extensions will be possible as the task needs to be completed prior to the perineal suturing laboratory. If an extension needs to be sought, the student must organise a make-up laboratory session with the subject coordinator. |
Assessment task 4: Assessment 4 - PEP portfolio completion and midwifery AMSAT
| Intent: | Students are required to complete and submit their clinical placement documentation i.e. the Professional Experience Portfolio (PEP), a minimum of ten completed (and meeting required criteria) Continuity of Midwifery Care Experiences and the Australian Midwifery Standards Assessment Tool (AMSAT). |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, D, E, F, G and H This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark |
| Length: | Please submit the portfolio in a normal ring binder and clearly labelled with the student's full name and student number. Do not bunch multiple sheets into a single plastic sleeve. Experiences in the PEP must be presented in numerical order (page number), presented neatly and must be complete when handed in. Incomplete or out of order portfolios will not be accepted. |
| Criteria: |
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Required texts
Pairman, S., Tracy, S. K., Dahlen, H., & Dixon, L. (2019). Midwifery: Preparation for practice; book 1 (4th ed.). Elsevier Australia.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S. K., Dahlen, H., & Dixon, L. (2019). Midwifery: Preparation for practice; book 2 (4th ed.). Elsevier Australia.
References
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2017). National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (2nd ed.).
Catling, C., Cummins, A. & Hogan, R. (2016). Stories in midwifery: Reflection, inquiry, action. Elsevier Australia.
Gray, J. & Smith, R. (2021). Midwifery essentials (3rd ed.). Elsevier Australia.
Gray, J., Smith, R. & Homer, C. (2021). Illustrated dictionary of midwifery (3rd ed.). Elsevier Australia.
Johnson, R. & Taylor, W. (2022) Skills for midwifery practice (5th ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Marieb, E. & Hoehn, K. (2018). Essentials of human anatomy & physiology (11th ed.). Pearson Education Ltd.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S. K., Dahlen, H., & Dixon, L. (2019). Midwifery: Preparation for practice; book 1 (4th ed.). Elsevier Australia.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S. K., Dahlen, H., & Dixon, L. (2019). Midwifery: Preparation for practice; book 2 (4th ed.). Elsevier Australia.
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