92682 Midwifery Practice 5: Preparing for Professional Practice
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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): 92679 Midwifery Practice 4: Working with a Woman who has a Complex Labour, Birth and Puerperium
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This final-year subject consolidates the student's knowledge, skills and attitudes in midwifery care as the student prepares for practice. In the midwifery practice setting, students implement care based on clinical decisions developed in collaboration. The subject covers maternity emergency situations in the transition to becoming a midwife. Students apply their knowledge of pathophysiology in maternity and neonatal emergencies in practice using simulated drills. The subject builds students capacity to work as part of a team and has an emphasis on effective communication, escalation of care, reflection on practice, handover and documentation in all midwifery situations.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Use evidence and apply knowledge of the pathophysiology to inform midwifery practice |
|---|---|
| B. | Demonstrate appropriate competency in simulated urgent and emergency situations in midwifery practice |
| C. | Communicate effectively, reflect on practice and document accurately in simulated urgent and emergency situations including using incident reporting systems |
| D. | In a simulated environment, demonstrate effective teamwork, reflect and explain clinical risk management strategies in maternity care |
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)
- 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)
- Participate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team (3.3)
- Communicate and provide effective care for women from diverse backgrounds and needs (5.4)
- Actively contribute to the development of midwifery as a profession (6.3)
- Demonstrate respect and value for world view differences and in particular Australian Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing (7.1)
- Critique and reflect upon the impact of ongoing colonisation and its pervasive discourse on Indigenous Australians and their health and wellbeing (7.2)
Teaching and learning strategies
WORKSHOPS AND ONLINE LEARNING MATERIALS
This subject benefits from both the real time delivery of content and access to online resources including videos and learning modules and students are expected to complete online modules prior to class. Tutorials will be undertaken through an online platform and will take place in the scheduled tutorial timeframe. Tutorial activities are provided to enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts about midwifery assessment, consultation, referral and rapid escalation during maternity emergencies. Students will engage in groupwork during these online tutorials to enable peer to peer learning.
FACE TO FACE CLINICAL SIMULATION TUTORIALS
Students participate in clinical simulation laboratories that focus on integration of key concepts and skills. In these sessions, students are introduced to a range of maternity emergency skills, including assessments and interventions as part of simulation activities. Simulation activities are practical learning through experiential learning experiences designed to give students exposure to a comprehensive range of scenarios that may be encountered in practice. Activities include the use of audio-visual aids, clinical "scene" set-ups with the use of manikins and clinical equipment, and teaching staff and students role-playing women experiencing an emergency. Students learn clinical and interpersonal skills with case scenarios in the laboratories. These practice scenarios enhance the development of professional communication required for midwifery practice.
ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES
Readiness for practice is assessed through an Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a reflection on clinical experience using the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) competency standards for the midwife in the Professional Experience Portfolio (PEP). Students must also successfully complete the required period of clinical practice, continue entries in their PEP and satisfactory completion of the Australian Midwifery Standards Assessment Tool (AMSAT).
CASE STUDIES AND STORIES FROM PRACTICE
Case studies and stories from clinical 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. They develop critical thinking through analysis, interpretation of and reflection on issues or situations.
PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO
Students further develop their professional ePortfolio. This online record encourages students to take an active role in the documentation, observation and review of their own progress. It is a powerful tool for focusing awareness or attention on what has been learned throughout the course, self assessment and the development of a professional identity.
SKILLS TABLE
- Demonstration of early recognition and response to maternity emergencies including consultation and referral and escalation of care
- Simulated teamwork including handover in urgent and emergency situations
- Consolidation of knowledge on the consultation and referral and demonstrated ability to escalate care in urgent and emergency situations
- Demonstrated ability to reflect and debrief with a woman and her family in a sensitive manner following emergency situations
- Demonstrated competency in communication skills necessary for midwifery practice including handovers, electronic medical records, incident reporting, consultation and referral processes.
- Working towards completion of all clinical practice requirements including a minimum of continuity of care experiences.
Content (topics)
- Consolidation of midwifery theory and practice in relation to the pathophysiology of pregnancy, labour, birth and the puerperium
- Timely recognition and response to the deteriorating woman and maternity emergencies
- Demonstration and simulated practice of effective teamwork
- Demonstration and simulated practice of effective communication skills including consultation, referral and escalation
- Knowledge of accurate documentation including incident reporting
- Ability to reflect on unexpected outcomes with the woman and the maternity team
- The importance and value of midwifery continuity of care in the transition through pregnancy to new motherhood.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Medication Calculation Assessment (MedSafe+ and Quiz)
| 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, with focus on postpartum haemorrhage management, will be completed during scheduled laboratory time. The student to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and safety focus regarding medications used in the maternity setting. The |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A and B This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3.3 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | PART A: Students will complete the 'Med+Safe' allocated maths exam online. Students are required to obtain 100% and upload their certificate of completion to the designated Canvas assessment portal. This task is mandatory and will be marked as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. PART B: The medication quiz is held during scheduled laboratory time, following the process below:
|
Assessment task 2: Maternity Emergency Modules (K2)
| 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 maternity emergencies Learning Pathway. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A and B This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.1 and 2.3 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | Complete the eight (8) set modules plus assessments as illustrated under Task. |
Assessment task 3: Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) (Quiz and Viva)
| Intent: | An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a performance-based assessment task that is used to measure students’ clinical competence in a simulated laboratory setting. |
|---|---|
| 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): 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.3 and 6.3 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
Assessment task 4: Clinical Practice Experience Documentation (PEP and AMSAT)
| Intent: | Part A: Professional Experience Placement (PEP) Portfolio Part B: Australian Midwifery Standards Assessment tool (AMSAT) |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 5.4, 7.1 and 7.2 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark |
| Criteria: | This assessment is graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. |
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)
Students are advised to acquire their own copies of these texts. Copies of these texts are available at the UTS library.
All additional readings, other than text books, will be available via links from within Canvas. The required preparatory activities for this subject will be advised on Canvas prior to any on campus lectures and tutorials. Please complete the set preparatory activities prior to the tutorial class in the week required.
NB: It is essential that students complete all required prepreparatory activities. The required preparatory activities will be considered assumed knowledge for tutorials, laboratories and the examination.
Other resources
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