NS5131 - Foundations of Midwifery Practice

This subject incorporates the principles of primary health care, woman centred and value based care; to focus on developing knowledge and midwifery skills required to assist women and their families in reproductive health, conception and pregnancy. Content includes physiology of reproduction and conception, pre-conceptual health, physiology of conception, physiological adaptations to pregnancy, antenatal screening, antenatal care for well women and antenatal education. The use of medicines within the scope of midwifery practice in Australia is introduced. Students are briefly introduced to birth and postnatal care as a scaffold to NS5133 (Healthy Labour and Birth) and NS5135 (Complex Midwifery Care). Students are introduced to the NMBA Midwifery Standards for Practice to underpin the development of their own midwifery philosophy and to reinforce a woman centred approach to midwifery led care.

Learning Outcomes

• critically analyse the midwifery care required in pre-conceptual health, antenatal care, antenatal screening, antenatal education and birth preparation for women and families;
• demonstrate provision of midwifery care from preconception throughout the pregnancy continuum to women and their families, consistent with the philosophy, ethics and the NMBA Midwifery Standards for Practice (2018);
• apply knowledge of the physiology of reproduction, conception and physiological adaptations throughout the pregnancy continuum to midwifery care;
• apply NMBA (2018) Midwifery Standards for Practice to develop a midwifery philosophy for caring for all childbearing women and their families;
• outline the physiological process of normal birth and the puerperium for the well woman, well infant and family.

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (50%) - Individual
• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (%) - Individual
• Participation > Class participation - (%) - Individual
• recruit 5 women for Continuity of Care Experience; must pass hurdle assessment - (%) - Individual
• Written > Case study analysis - (50%) - Individual
• Written > Workbook - (%) - Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Professional placement performance - (%) - Individual.

Special Assessment Requirements

Passing requirements: complete and submit all assessment items; achieve at least 70% for each online quiz; participate in all scheduled classes; achieve a cumulative score of at least 50% after the application of any penalties such as late penalties; achieve a satisfactory grade for K2 modules and professional experience placement; recruit 5 women for CCEs; achieve at least 50% for the examination. Examinations may be scheduled outside regular university examination period.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.