Postgraduate - UnitMID5002 - Woman midwife partnerships and complex childbearing

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit	School of Nursing and Midwifery
Offered	Not offered in 2015
Coordinator(s)	Dr Mary Anne Biroand Ms Maureen Miles (Gippsland)

Synopsis

An introduction to complex pregnancy and childbirth and the role of the midwife in providing care for women experiencing problems. Students will develop their existing knowledge/skills by working with women and other members of the healthcare team when problems arise during pregnancy, labour & birth, and the first weeks after birth. The students will also acquire foundational knowledge of the care of babies with special needs. Students will have the opportunity to study the circumstances that commonly result in a baby being admitted to a Level Two Nursery. The issues confronting the infant and family during this period will be explored and the role of the midwife in facilitating health and wellbeing of the family. Students will reflect upon and debate the ethico-legal issues involved in care of the baby with special needs. Emphasis is given to the collaborative role of the midwife, consultation and referral, use of medical technology & intervention, and the implications for women, their babies, and midwives themselves.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit the student will be able to:

utilise knowledge from the biosciences applicable to woman experiencing complex pregnancy and childbirth;
describe and identify common embryological and fetal developments that give rise to abnormalities;
examine specific medical and obstetric conditions that affect childbearing;
evaluate the implications of obstetric interventions for the woman and midwifery practice;
demonstrate skills in the management of emergencies in childbearing;
demonstrate understanding of the circumstances that may necessitate admission of a baby to a Level Two nursery;
evaluate the Level Two Nursery environment and its impact upon the baby and family;
utilise the clinical decision making process to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the care required by the baby and the family;
demonstrate an appreciation of the family's need for privacy, dignity and respect, as well as their right to be informed and to make decision regarding care of their baby;
demonstrate the ability to practice within a multidisciplinary team in an environment of complexity;
facilitate woman's access to appropriate community resources; and
demonstrate midwifery competency based upon the ACMI Competency Standards.

Assessment

Written assignment (2,500 words) (30%)
Guided study activities (20%)
Exam (Compulsory pass required) (50%)
Assessment of midwifery practice skills (Pass / Fail)