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Transition to Midwifery Practice

  • Module code: MW6010
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 6
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: Social and Political Context of Maternity Care

Summary

This module provides you with the requisite knowledge and skills to support the normal physiological processes of childbirth and provide safe and effective midwifery care.

Aims

  • Understand the anatomy and physiology of reproduction and to apply this to midwifery care.
  • Recognise the role and responsibilities of the midwife in relation to supporting normal childbirth.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Discuss critically the maternal physiological adaptations to pregnancy, birth and the puerperium and the implications for midwifery care.
  • Critically discuss embryological/fetal development and neonatal adaptation to extra uterine life.
  • Analyse critically the professional role and responsibilities of the midwife.
  • Demonstrate the ability to critically apply relevant theory and evidence to the provision of individualised midwifery care.

Curriculum content

  • Applied Anatomy and Physiology
  • Female reproductive system (including menstrual cycle)
  • Male reproductive system (including spermatogenesis)
  • Musculoskeletal system (including female pelvis and pelvic floor)
  • Fertilisation, implantation and placental development
  • Embryonic development from conception
  • Fetal development
  • Fetal physiology (to include circulation)
  • Pregnancy symptoms and diagnosis of pregnancy.
  • Physiological adaptations to pregnancy and associated minor disorders
  • Physiology of labour (initiation and continuance}
  • Physiology of the puerperium
  • Anatomy of the breast and the physiology of lactation.
  • Relevant anatomy: pelvis, fetal skull, bladder and pelvic floor
  • Physiology of pain in childbirth
  • Neonatal adaptation/ physiology
  • Midwifery/ Maternity Care
  • Antenatal care (to include, booking, screening and normal care  pathways)
  • Common problems, eg. minor disorders
  • Lifestyle advice. eg. healthy eating, exercise
  • Intrapartum care. evidence for care (include managing pain, assessment of fetal well-being and monitoring of fetal heart)
  • Postpartum and seonatal care
  • Newborn screening
  • Infant feeding
  • Contraception
  • Professional responsibilities of the midwife and scope of practice
  • Relevant Nursing and Midwifery Council documents
  • Medicines management
  • Supervision
  • Accountability, autonomy, legal and ethical frameworks for practice.

Teaching and learning strategy

A variety of teaching and learning strategies will be utilised within this module. The use of lead lectures, time for directed reading and discussions will enable students to explore topics in depth. Lecture content is accessible on the virtual-learning portal this aims to enhance students learning by providing opportunities to follow up indicative reading.  DVDs and online workbooks provide additional resources to enhance students' learning.

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Guided study
  • Online learning activities
  • Planned clinical practice activities
  • Simulation and skills laboratory

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching 96
Guided independent study 24
Clinical practice 180
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Formative Assessment

Practice questions; both on line and written.

Practice Assessment Document (PAD) midpoint interview

Summative Assessment

Unseen examination   3 hours (50%)

Short answer questions sampling antenatal, labour, postnatal, neonatal physiology and care. Choice of four questions out of eight

PAD (50%)

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
1) Discuss critically the maternal physiological adaptations to pregnancy, birth and the puerperium and the implications for midwifery care. Formative: PAD Summative: Examination (3 hours) and PAD
2) Critically discuss embryological/ fetal development and neonatal adaptation to extra uterine life. Formative: PAD Summative: Examination (3 hours) and PAD
3) Analyse critically the professional role and responsibilities of the midwife. Formative: PAD Summative: Examination (3 hours) and PAD
4) Demonstrate the ability to critically apply relevant theory and evidence to the provision of individualised midwifery care. Formative: PAD Summative: Examination (3 hours) and PAD

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Written exam 50%
PAD 50%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It is a requirement that the elements of assessment are passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Coad J, Dunstall M (2011) Anatomy and physiology for mdwives. 3rd  edn. Edinburgh: Mosby.

Magill-Cuerden J. and Macdonald, S. (eds.) (2011) Mayes' midwifery. A textbook for midwives 14th edn. London: Harcourt Health Sciences.

Bibliography recommended reading

Baston,H and Hall, J (2009) Midwifery essentials: Antenatal. Volume 2. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone.

Baston,H and Hall, J (2009) Midwifery essentials: Postnatal Volume 4. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone.

Stables, D. & Rankin, J. (eds) (2010) Physiology in childbearing with anatomy and related biosciences. 3rd edn. Edinburgh: Baillière Tindall

Walsh, D. and Downe, S. (2010) Essential midwifery practice: Intrapartum care. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

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