92375 Midwifery Practice 1
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject has a pre-session, preparation for practice component. Students then commence clinical practice and return at the beginning of session for the second part of the subject.
The subject provides the theoretical underpinnings to enable students to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes for midwifery practice. The primary focus of this subject is on women experiencing a normal childbearing period. Professional practice placements are a compulsory requirement and are assessed within this subject.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Demonstrate appropriate competency in midwifery practice in providing care to a woman and her baby in pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. (NMBA Standards 1 and 6) |
|---|---|
| B. | Engage with women in order to obtain, interpret and record a detailed history; perform a comprehensive psychological and social assessment; and accurately assess and evaluate findings. (NMBA Standards 3 and 4) |
| C. | Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy, childbirth, the puerperium and lactation, and to midwifery care provision. (NMBA Standard 4) |
| D. | Communicate effectively, reflect on practice and document accurately. (NMBA Standards 1 and 5) |
| E. | Use evidence to inform practice in provision of midwifery care. (NMBA Standards 1 and 7) |
| F. | Work in partnership with women and other members of the health care team. (NMBA Standard 2) |
| G. | Apply legal, ethical and professional responsibilities to midwifery practice. (NMBA Standards 2 and 3) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Practise woman-centred care (1.0)
- 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)
- Work collaboratively in order to provide excellence in maternity care (3.0)
- Are resilient, emotionally competent midwives who foster human flourishing (4.0)
- Are socially responsible citizens who value the diversity of people (5.0)
- Are professionally engaged critical thinkers who take a lively and questioning approach and embrace lifelong learning (6.0)
- Graduates have professional cultural competency which contributes to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness (7.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage them to engage with contemporary, evidence-based midwifery care and practice.
ONLINE LEARNING MODULES
The subject includes the provision of online learning modules as preparation for in-class learning activities. Students are introduced to the online and YouTube resources available through Canvas and these are incorporated in the subjects throughout their course. These activities are supported by follow-up in-class activities or in online forums to share learning, experiences and reflections.
WORKSHOPS
Face-to-face and online workshops enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts. The workshops are supported by online learning activities and followed up in-class activities.
CLINICAL SKILLS, COMMUNICATION AND SIMULATION
Students participate in simulated practice of clinical skills used in midwifery practice, including the care of women and their families through an uncomplicated pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. Activities include the use of mannequins, teaching staff or other students as simulated women. Students learn and practise clinical and interpersonal skills with case scenarios in the classroom. These practice 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 antenatal, labour, birth and postnatal care in simulated practice. Assessment of anatomy and physiology in relation to the childbearing woman is assessed through the satisfactory completion of a workbook. Readiness for practice is assessed through the Professional Experience Placement Portfolio (PEP) and the satisfactory completion of the Australian Midwifery Skills Assessment Tool (AMSAT).
In this subject, students undertake concurrent employment of 32 hours per week in the clinical setting. 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)
Philosophy of midwifery practice
- Midwifery competencies and codes of practice
- Australian College of Midwives (ACM) philosophy of midwifery practice
Reflection in midwifery practice
- Reflection on students’ developing midwifery practice through the PEP portfolio and in-class or online discussions
- Exploration and application of reflective practice tools to midwifery practice scenarios
Anatomy and physiology
- Extension of the knowledge of anatomy and physiology during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period from the pre-session workshop for Midwifery Practice 1
- Application of students’ understanding of the anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period (including lactation) and for the neonate while on clinical practice
- Deeper understanding of the maternal and fetal adaptations in childbirth
Knowledge and skills
- Application of knowledge and skills when providing care during the antenatal period, in labour and birth (including assessment of fetal wellbeing and electronic fetal monitoring), postnatal and newborn care; social and emotional assessments; peri-operative care; safe administration of medications
- Focus on the provision of care – ‘being with’ women especially in labour will be a specific highlight
Communication skills
- Active listening
- Strengths-based approaches to working with women and families
- Difficult questions – asking them and listening to difficult answers
- Self-care for midwives – being mindful and asking for support when needed
Assessment
Assessment task 1: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE PLACEMENT (PEP) PORTFOLIO
| Intent: | The primary focus of this subject is on women experiencing a normal childbearing period. Students will record their antenatal, labour, birth, postnatal and other professional experiences in their professional experience placement (PEP) portfolio. The students will aim to complete around half the clinical experiences in the PEP portfolio and have met at least half of the women as part of the midwifery continuity of care experience by the end of semester. Midwifery continuity of care means after meeting a women and gaining consent you will provide midwifery care for her throughout her pregnancy, be available (on call) for her birth and provide care in the postnatal period. Please refer to the PEP portfolio for details regarding points of contact with the women engagd in continuity of care experiences. It is anticipated that students will be introduced to the complexities in pregnancy, birth and the puerperium and these experiences should be recorded in the PEP portfolio- although the main focus is on the normal childbearing period. Students will complete these clinical experiences under the supervision of a registered midwife at all times and the registered midwife will sign each experience recorded in the PEP portfolio. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, F and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Length: | As required. |
Assessment task 2: AUSTRALIAN MIDWIFERY STANDARDS ASSESSMENT TOOL
| Intent: | The primary focus of this subject is on women experiencing a normal childbearing period. Professional practice placements are a compulsory requirement and are assessed within this subject. Midwifery students will demonstrate appropriate competency in midwifery practice in providing care of a woman and her baby in pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period and this will be assessed by their hospital educator using the Australian Midwifery Skills Assessment Tool (AMSAT) at the end of the session. The standards assessed are from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Midwife Standards for Pactice. The standards are as follows:
|
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, F and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Length: | As required. |
Assessment task 3: WORKBOOK
| Intent: | The primary focus of this subject is on women experiencing a normal childbearing period. The workbook will build on the anatomical and physiological changes women experience throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the puerperium. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Length: | As required. |
Assessment task 4: LITERATURE REVIEW
| Intent: | This assessment is designed to give the student the opportunity to complete a literature search and further develop their academic skills in searching the literature and writing. The opportunity to explore one particular issue in relation to midwifery practice also enables the student to further understand that issue. The student is required to explore the current evidence based research in relation to the midwifery question. The literature review will enable you to begin searching for evidence based care for women throughout the childbearing experience and will influence your midwifery practice. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Essay |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 1500 words. |
Assessment task 5: CASE STUDY EXAMINATION
| Intent: | This assessment piece is designed to evaluate student's comprehension of midwifery knowledge and theory integration including the anatomical and physiological changes that occur to a woman during pregnancy, birth and the puerperium. It also assesses the student's beginning understanding of the transitional period of early parenthood and the role of the midwife when working with women and their families during the childbearing period. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, F and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 2 hours. |
Required texts
Catling, C., Cummins, A. & Hogan, R. (2016). Stories in Midwifery, Elsevier Australia, Sydney.
Gray, J. & Smith, R. (2018). Midwifery essentials, Elsevier Australia, Sydney.
Gray, J., Smith, R. & Homer, C. (2018). Illustrated dictionary of midwifery, Elsevier Australia, Sydney.
Pairman, S., et al., Midwifery: Preparation for practice; book 1 4th eds ed. (2019). Elsevier Australia.
Pairman, S., et al., Midwifery: Preparation for practice; book 2 4th ed. (2019). Elsevier Australia.
The following texts are similar and you can choose either:
Marshall, J.E. & Raynor, M.D. (2020). Myles Textbook for Midwives, 17th edn, Elsevier Health Sciences
OR
Macdonald, S. and Johnson, G. (eds), 2017, Mayes Midwifery, 15th edn, Elsevier, London.
Recommended texts
Cochrane database, www.cochrane.org
Leap, N. & Hunter, B. (2016). Supporting women for labour and birth, Taylor & Fancis Ltd., London.
Walsh, D. (2011). Evidence and skills for normal labour and birth: a guide for midwives, 2nd edn, Routledge, London.
Byrom, S. and Downe, S. (eds), (2015). The Roar behind the Silence: Why kindness, compassion and respect matter in maternity care, Pinter and Martin, London.
References
Gray, J. & Smith, R. (2018). Midwifery essentials, Elsevier Australia, Sydney.
Gray, J., Smith, R. & Homer, C. (2018). Illustrated dictionary of midwifery, Elsevier Australia, Sydney.
Stables, D. & Rankin, J. (2017). Physiology in childbearing: with anatomy and related biosciences, 4th edn, Baillière Tindall, Edinburgh.
Walsh, D. (2011). Evidence and skills for normal labour and birth: a guide for midwives, Routledge, London.
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and UTSOnline at: https://online.uts.edu.au/webapps/login/
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you’re unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au.
The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.