92675 Midwifery Practice 3: Working with a Woman who has a Complex Pregnancy
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Pass fail, no marksRequisite(s): 92671 Midwifery Practice 2: Supporting Women AND 92354 Introductory Pharmacology and Microbiology
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject prepares students to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate midwifery care for women who have complex needs during pregnancy. The subject provides theoretical underpinnings that engage students to explore how midwives can support these women and builds student capacity to acquire the knowledge, skills and attributes for midwifery practice in complex situations.
Students in this subject work in simulated learning environments to learn and develop the requisite midwifery practice skills. Students engage in midwifery practice and are provided with opportunities to reflect on their practice. In the midwifery practice setting, students work with midwives and implement care based on clinical decisions developed in collaboration with others. Students are expected to continue with their continuity of midwifery care experiences.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Provide safe midwifery care based on clinical decisions developed in collaboration with the maternity care team |
|---|---|
| B. | Administer medications safely, and demonstrate competency in drug calculations |
| C. | Demonstrate effective handover techniques and documentation skills |
| D. | Assess, plan, implement and evaluate practice skills in complex situations |
| E. | Effectively document the recognition and management of complex situations |
| F. | Apply theoretical underpinnings to the skills developed in this subject |
| G. | Demonstrate appropriate competency in midwifery practice |
| H. | Reflect on clinical experiences and provide rationale for care provision |
| I. | Demonstrate appropriate proficiency in maths calculations |
| J. | Continue with midwifery continuity of care experiences |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Practice woman centred care (1.0)
- Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness (2.0)
- 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 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)
Teaching and learning strategies
Learning and Teaching Strategies
In this subject, students will participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage engagment with contemporary, evidence-based midwifery care and practice, particularly around complex pregnancy.
Online learning activities
Online resources enable students to clarify complex concepts and terminology and engage with sensitive or confronting topics at their own pace. Online activities are then discussed in class to share learning, experiences and reflections.
Face-to-face classes
Face-to-face clinical laboratory sessions and online activities are provided to enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts.
Clinical skills, communication skills and simulation
Students will participate in the simulated practice of clinical skills used in midwifery practice, including supporting women in pregnancy, the safe administration of medications and competency in drug calculations. Students learn and practice 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 other health care professionals.
Students must successfully complete the required period of clinical practice as part of this subject and submit their professional experience portfolio for assessment at the end of the semester.
Case studies and stories from practice
Case studies and stories from practice depict people and their families in clinical, community and social situations. Students use these scenarios to learn concepts, interpret information and develop creative solutions. Critical thinking is developed through analysis, interpretation of and reflection on issues or situations.
Clinical placement
Students complete 96 hours of clinical placement experience in a maternity unit, to develop and consolidate their knowledge, skills, and attributes relevant to the care of women and babies. Students provide midwifery care to women, babies, and their families, under the direct supervision of registered midwives and medical practitioners.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Medication administration assessment
| Intent: | The intent of this assessment is to develop students competence regarding the safe administration of medications to women and babies in their care. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B, G and I This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.0 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Length: | 45 minutes during tutorial session. |
Assessment task 2: Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
| Intent: | The OSCE will assess students' ability to translate learning experiences from laboratories and worshops to simulated clinical practice. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, D, F, G and I This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.5 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
Assessment task 3: Clinical Practice Experience Documentation
| Intent: | The intention of this task is to assess students' clinical learning and development in accordance with the Midwife Standards for Practice (NMBA 2018). |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and J This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.5 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
Required texts
Bayes, S., De-Vitry Smith, S., Taylor, W., Johnson, R. (2022). Skills for Midwifery Practice, Australia and New Zealand Edition (2nd ed.). Elsevier.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H., Dixon, L. (2023). Midwifery: Preparation for practice (5th ed.). Elsevier. (available as an ebook via UTS library)
Recommended texts
Cummins, A., Gillett, K., McLaughlin, K., Musgrave, L., Wood., J., 2023 Stories in midwifery?: reflection, inquiry, action. Ed 3. Elsevier.
References
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2021), National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (2nd ed.).
Bayes, S., De-Vitry Smith, S., Taylor, W., Johnson, R. (2022). Skills for Midwifery Practice, Australia and New Zealand Edition (2nd ed.). Elsevier.
Blackburn, S. (2017). Maternal, fetal, & neonatal physiology?: a clinical perspective (5th ed.). Elsevier
Cunningham F, Leveno K., Dashe J., Hoffman B.L., Spong C.Y., and Casey B.M.(Eds.) 2022 Williams Obstetrics, 26e. McGraw Hill.
Foley M., Strong, T., and Garite T. (Eds.), [2018] Obstetric Intensive Care Manual, 5e. McGraw-Hill Education.
Hacker, N.F., Gambone, J. C., & Hobel, C. J. (Eds.). (2016). Hacker & Moore’s essentials of obstetrics and gynecology (6th ed.). Elsevier.
Hanretty, K. P., Ramsden, I., & Callander, R. (2009). Obstetrics illustrated. (7th ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H., Dixon, L. (2023). Midwifery: Preparation for practice (5th ed.). Elsevier. (available as an ebook via UTS library)
Other resources
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