Course Title: Midwifery 2

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Midwifery 2

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

NURS1166

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014

Course Coordinator: Linda Jones

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7417

Course Coordinator Email: linda.jones@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Registered Nurse
Completion of a Bachelor in Nursing program or equivalent

Pre/Co-requisites: NURS1165 Midwifery 1


Course Description

In this second course the core domains of midwifery knowledge are discussed. This course complements NURS1165 Midwifery 1 and continues the comprehensive holistic view of childbirth as continuum processes to present the scientific fundamentals of midwifery practice in postnatal and newborn care. A woman-centred approach to care that integrates both the uncomplicated and complicated aspects of postnatal and newborn knowledge and practice within a variety of contemporary settings will be addressed. The course will also focus on the fundamental physiology of childbearing with anatomy and related biosciences concepts that are pertinent to the discipline of midwifery.

The course has both theoretical and practical components and is designed to provide you with an opportunity to develop essential midwifery knowledge and graduate capabilities. The practical component is structured to provide work-integrated learning experiences, which complement the theoretical component. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the midwife in establishing the woman-midwife partnership, and care of the woman and her fetus, within the boundaries of evidenced-based midwifery practice.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Legal and Professional Practice

  • Functions in accordance with legislation and common law affecting midwifery practice;
  • Accepts accountability and responsibility for own actions within midwifery practice.

Midwifery Knowledge and Practice

  • Communicates information to facilitate decision-making by the woman;
  • Promotes safe and effective midwifery care;
  • Assesses, plans, provides and evaluates safe and effective midwifery care;
  • Assesses, plans, provides and evaluates safe and effective midwifery care for the women and/or baby with complex needs.

Midwifery as Primary Health Care

  • Advocates to protect the rights of women, families and communities in relation to maternity care;
  • Develops effective strategies to implement and support collaborative midwifery practice;
  • Actively supports midwifery as a public health strategy;
  • Ensures midwifery practice is culturally safe.

Reflective and Ethical Practice

  • Bases midwifery practice on ethical decision making;
  • Identifies personal beliefs and develops these in ways that enhance midwifery practice;
  • Acts to enhance the professional development of self and others;
  • Uses research to inform midwifery practice.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) National Competency Standards for the Midwife (2006).


At the conclusion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Utilise knowledge from the biosciences applicable to postnatal and newborn care for the care of a woman during childbirth;
  2.  Utilise knowledge of the anatomical and physiological changes of the puerperium to the care of the postnatal woman;
  3. Critically analyse the dynamics of the woman and her family as part of the childbearing experience;
  4. Utilise the knowledge of characteristics of the newborn, adaptation to extrauterine life, neonatal development and behaviour to the care of the newborn infant;
  5. Apply the principles of postnatal maternal and newborn care which reflect a women-centred approach to care delivery for women and their families;
  6. Critically evaluate the issues of short hospital stay and community care;
  7. Utilise knowledge of common neonatal complications in the care of the infant;
  8. Critically examine the issue of natural versus formula infant feeding;
  9. Apply the principles of care of the newborn with specific health deficits;
  10. Demonstrate skills in the management of obstetrical emergencies, including resuscitation of the newborn in the absence of a medical practitioner; 
  11. Critically evaluate the implications of obstetric interventions for midwifery practice;
  12. Interpret the role of the midwife as primary carer and as a member of a collaborative health-care team.
     

Practical component:

  1. Demonstrate competency according to the ACMI Competency Standards for Midwives (1998) relevant to this area of study.


Overview of Learning Activities

There is a range of learning requirements for this course that require different learning activities. Accordingly, a variety of planned student learning experiences will be utilised involving seminars, group discussion, on line activities (journal article critique and e journal/reflective journal), simulations and other interactive learning experiences.

Learning is also achieved through various clinical settings within the midwifery practice domain.


Overview of Learning Resources

The entire course is supported by information, learning activities and resources  via myRMIT Studies on the Midwifery Programs site. As well as enhanced learning opportunities, this forms part of the assessment through journal article critiques and the e journal/reflective journal through which students are expected to participate in. The lecturers will continually monitor the journal critiques and e journal to give students ongoing feedback. Textbooks, journal articles and the electronic media also provide learning resources for students undertaking this course as well as the midwifery practice domain.


Overview of Assessment

In order to achieve the learning outcomes, midwifery students need to be able to demonstrate midwifery judgments in relation to the learning objectives. Students will need to demonstrate that they can articulate and evaluate various issues in midwifery practice to address the broad range of descriptive objectives. This can be achieved in some form of written or on-line assessment where students provide evidence of their knowledge and application to practice (this includes journal article critique). Assessment needs to include evaluating how midwifery students’ synthesis their understandings in the design of a plan based on accurate assessment of individuals. This can be achieved through midwifery clinical placements and an examination. One component of assessment needs to allow midwifery students to demonstrate their reflection on their development as a midwife and midwifery practice. This can be achieved through a reflective journal (e journal).