92684 Navigating a Midwifery Career Pathway
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Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject requires students to reflect on their self-care strategies and prepare them for the transition as a graduate midwife in a complex maternity service. The subject focuses on how students prepare for a professional role using the Midwifery Graduate Attributes of woman centred care, professional competence, collaboration, resilience, diversity, professional engagement and Indigenous cultural competency. It prepares students to take ownership of their ongoing professional identity through the use of a portfolio, which involves writing resumes and preparing for job interviews. In preparation for entering the workforce, students also explore strategies for self care and work–life balance to sustain them throughout their midwifery career.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Analyse the work environments of the new graduate midwife and identify strategies for a smooth transition to practice |
|---|---|
| B. | Investigate and discuss the concepts of self-care and work-life balance in relation to sustaining midwifery practice |
| C. | Develop a comprehensive curriculum vitae and prepare for a job interview |
| D. | Provide evidence of ethical behaviour towards women, colleagues and communities and assess strategies to address ethical issues in clinical practice |
| E. | Analyse the midwife’s professional responsibility and personal accountability for practice |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- 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)
- 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)
- Demonstrate knowledge of the broader health system and advocate for midwifery as a local and global public health strategy (5.2)
- Practise with the knowledge that midwifery can make the biggest difference to the least advantaged women and families (5.3)
- 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)
- 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)
- Recognise the diversity of Indigenous Australians and integrate this knowledge into practice (7.3)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of learning and teaching strategies that are designed to assist in developing a deeper understanding of the transition to professional practice and the regulation of the profession in Australia.
ONLINE LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Students access online learning resources including pre-class activities, podcasts, videos and professional literature either prior to or in place of face-to-face attendance. These activities are supported by follow-up in-class activities or in online forums to share learning, experiences and reflections. In particular, students are required to access the resources on the NMBA website that will guide their professional practice (included the codes for practice), the Australian College of Midwives and other professional groups such as the International Confederation of Midwives, to support their ongoing professional development.
INTERACTIVE LEARNING
Teaching includes group work to enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts. Students will be provided with information on being a midwife including the application process for a graduate position upon registration. The subject addresses the importance of supporting midwifery and other students in the workplace using collaborative group activities during class time, as this is an important component of transitioning into professional practice.
PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO
Students further develop their professional Portfolio. 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.
Content (topics)
• Management of professional relationships
• Self-care strategies, mindfulness and the development of resilience
• Professional responsibility and personal accountability
• Meeting the Faculty of Health Midwifery Graduate Attributes
• Attaining a midwifery position
• Self-assessment
• Writing a job application
• Maintaining a curriculum vitae
• Being successful in a job interview.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Portfolio - Cover letter, CV and mock interview
| Intent: | PART A - Cover Letter PART B - Curriculum Vitae PART C - Mock interview for a New Graduate Midwife position |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | PART A - Cover Letter: due 9 April 2024 (20%)
PART B - CV: due 9 April 2024 (10%)
PART C - Mock interview for a New Graduate Midwife position: 3 June 2024- times to be advised (20%)
|
| Criteria: | Please see Canvas for assessment criteria. |
Assessment task 2: Review and reflect on professional identity
| Intent: | This assessment requires the student to reflect on their past, present and future midwifery learning context and refine their professional identity as a soon to be registered midwife. The findings from this assessment will assist the student to review and critique strategies required to successfully complete their Bachelor of Midwifery degree, leading to registration as a midwife. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 3.3, 6.2 and 6.3 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | PART A: Approximately 250- 400 words (no references required) |
| Criteria: | Assessment criteria is available on Canvas. |
References
Andre, K. & Heartfield, M. (2011). Nursing and midwifery portfolios: Evidence of continuing competency (2nd edn). Churchill Livingstone.
Byrom, S. & Downe, S. (2015). The roar behind the silence: Why kindness, compassion and respect matter in maternity care. Pinter and Martin.
Catling, C., & Rossiter, C. (2020). Midwifery workplace culture in Australia: A national survey of midwives. Women and Birth: Journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 33(5), 464-472. https://doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2019.09.008
Crowther, S., Hunter, B., McAra-Couper, J., Warren, L., Gilkison, A., Hunter, M. & Kirkham, M. (2016). Sustainability and resilience in midwifery: A discussion paper. Midwifery, 40, 40-48. https://doi:10.1016/j.midw.2016.06.005
Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (2011). Employability skills and attributes framework. DEEWR.
Hunter, B. & Warren, L. (2013). Investigating resilience in midwifery: Final report. Cardiff University.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation (revised edn). Little Brown Book Group.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) (2018). Midwife Standards for Practice. NMBA.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H. & Dixon, L (2019a). Midwifery: Preparation for practice: Book 1 (4th ed). Elsevier.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H. & Dixon, L. (2019b). Midwifery: Preparation for practice: Book 2 (4th ed). Elsevier.
Other resources
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