92388 Midwifery Practice 1
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Pass fail, no 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. | Work in partnership with women, their babies, families and other members of the health care team to provide evidence-based midwifery care |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| C. | Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy, childbirth, the puerperium and lactation, and to midwifery care provision |
| D. | Communicate effectively, reflect on practice and document accurately within a legal and ethical framework |
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)
- Work in partnership with women (1.5)
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the woman, her clinical and psychological needs and work in partnership to implement a treatment plan (1.7)
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the discipline of midwifery (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)
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that includes the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area (2.9)
- Demonstrate respectful and collegial collaboration with women, professional peers and other stakeholders (3.2)
- Communicate the treatment plan clearly to other health professionals (3.4)
- 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)
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 Midwifery 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’ a woman 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
Skills
- Antenatal book in history including screening for anxiety, depression and domestic violence
- Communications skills needed in midwifery practice
- Providing midwifery care during pregnancy including routine screening
- Fetal development
- Introduction to fetal welfare assessment
- Mechanisms of labour and birth
- Midwifery care and assessment during labour and birth
- Providing midwifery care through the puerperium
- Introduction to breastfeeding
- PEP portfolio
- CoMCE recruitment strategies
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Online Anatomy and Physiology Modules
| Intent: | The primary focus of this subject is on women experiencing a normal childbearing period. The Anatomy and Physiology Workbook provides foundational knowledge 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): C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.2, 1.7, 2.1, 2.9 and 6.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | As required. |
Assessment task 2: Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
| Intent: | The intent of this assessment is to assess the clinical knowledge and skills learnt in the semester. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 1.5, 1.7, 2.2, 2.3 and 5.4 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | As required. |
Assessment task 3: Australian Midwifery Standards Assessment Tool (AMSAT)
| Intent: | The primary focus of this subject is on women experiencing a normal childbearing period. Professional employment as a midwifery student is a compulsory requirement and is 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 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:
Students are required to reflect on their experience during their clinical work and record this reflection within the online AMSAT document. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 1.7, 3.2 and 3.4 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | As required. |
Required texts
Gray, J. & Smith, R. (2018). Midwifery essentials. Elsevier.
Gray, J., Smith, R. & Homer, C. (2018). Illustrated dictionary of midwifery. Elsevier.
Pairman, S., Tracy., S.K., Dahlen, H.G., Dixon, L. (2023). Midwifery: Preparation for practice 5e: Book 1 (5th ed.). Elsevier.
Pairman, S., Tracy., S.K., Dahlen, H.G., Dixon, L. (2023). Midwifery: Preparation for practice 5e: Book 2 (5th ed.). Elsevier.
Johnson, R., Taylor, W., de-Vitry Smith, S., Bayes, S. (2019). Skills for Midwifery Practice. Elsevier.
The following texts are similar and you can choose either:
Marshall, J.E., & Raynor, M.D. (2020). Myles Textbook for Midwives. (17th ed.). Elsevier.
OR
Macdonald, S., & Johnson, G. (Eds). (2017). Mayes Midwifery. (15th ed.). Elsevier.
Recommended texts
Cochrane database, www.cochrane.org
Leap, N., & Hunter, B. (2016). Supporting women for labour and birth. Taylor & Francis Ltd..
Walsh, D., (2011). Evidence and skills for normal labour and birth: a guide for midwives. (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Byrom, S., & 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.
Gray, J., Smith, R. & Homer, C. (2018). Illustrated dictionary of midwifery. Elsevier.
Pairman, S., Tracy., S.K., Dahlen, H.G., Dixon, L. (2023). Midwifery: Preparation for practice 5e: Book 1 (5th ed.). Elsevier.
Pairman, S., Tracy., S.K., Dahlen, H.G., Dixon, L. (2023). Midwifery: Preparation for practice 5e: Book 2 (5th ed.). Elsevier.
Johnson, R., Taylor, W., de-Vitry Smith, S., Bayes, S. (2019). Skills for Midwifery Practice. Elsevier.
Marshall, J.E., & Raynor, M.D. (2020). Myles Textbook for Midwives. (17th ed.). Elsevier.
Macdonald, S., & Johnson, G. (Eds). (2017). Mayes Midwifery. (15th ed.). Elsevier.
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