Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

School: Nursing and Midwifery

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

• Unit Title

  Midwifery Practice 1: Midwifery Principles and Beginning Competencies

• Unit Code

  MIP1203

• Year

  2022

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  4

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

• Unit Coordinator

  Mrs Emma Louise RITCHIE

Description

This is the first workplace integrated learning unit in a series of six clinical midwifery practice units. In this unit students are introduced to midwifery philosophies, definitions and frameworks, and the practice of woman-centred midwifery. Students will also be prepared for clinical midwifery practice settings and the conduct of continuity of care experiences through an intensive series of lectures and clinical skills workshops provided by the core midwifery teaching team in conjunction with a range of woman-centred midwifery and allied maternity care associates. Students will have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, techniques and skills required by the professional midwife to perform comprehensive midwifery health assessments including the basic physical assessment of antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum women, and newborns. Beginning level clinical reasoning skills with a focus on woman-centred health assessment and management, symptom assessment, and promoting function are also developed in this unit.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Students will also be required to undertake clinical practicum during the hours laid down by their host clinical agency and that these may occur at times outside the identified semester weeks. Additionally, pre-identified clinical practicum periods may change with minimal notice to students due to circumstances outside the control of the School. Students are also required to conduct continuity of care experiences, these may occur outside of identified semester weeks.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded NMW1106, NMW1108, NMW1111

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Discuss the philosophies, definitions and frameworks that underpin midwifery.
2. Demonstrate professional competence in the workplace setting in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Competencies for the Registered Midwife relevant to a Stage 1 learner scope of practice.
3. Discuss the need to provide maternity care in a manner that is considerate of Australian Indigenous and other non-Australian cultures.
4. Develop beginner level midwifery skills to undertake basic antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and neonatal physical assessments relevant to midwifery practice in a variety of health care settings.
5. Assume management of 15% of the Registered Midwife Workload appropriate to the setting.
6. Undertake woman-centred maternal mental health assessments.

Unit Content

1. The history, philosophy, definitions, frameworks, current context and role of midwifery and midwives.
2. The concept of woman-centred and culturally considerate maternity care.
3. Taking basic maternal health histories.
4. Basic maternal and neonatal health assessment and documentation.
5. Abdominal palpation in pregnancy, intrapartum and postpartum.
6. Initial physical assessment of the newborn.
7. Instruments for assessing maternal mental health and neonatal adaptation to extra-uterine life.
8. Professionalism as a midwifery student working in multidisciplinary teams.
9. Orientation to clinical practice environments, continuity of care, documentation and reflection.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

For more information see the Semester Timetable

WIL - Internship, Clinical or Professional placement (on-campus)

Work done in an actual workplace in which the student applies discipline-specific knowledge and skills, supervised by an industry professional at an ECU campus or location.  

Additional Learning Experience Information

Online interactive learning activities, tutorials, workshops, 80 hours of clinical practice experience and at least 2 hours of CoCE.

Assessment

GS2 GRADING SCHEMA 2 Used for Undifferentiated Pass/Fail units inc. practical units or work-integrated learning

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit information may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.