Fundamentals of Midwifery and Nursing

Unit code: HMB1002 | Study level: Undergraduate
Credit points
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
St Albans
Prerequisites
HBM1202 - Anatomy and Physiology 2; and
HMB1001 - Foundations of Midwifery; and
HNB1102 - Foundations in Nursing 1
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Overview
Enquire

Overview

This unit expands on the content of Foundations of Nursing 1 and Foundations of Midwifery. Students will also draw on knowledge gained in the Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 units to undertake comprehensive and systematic health assessments. Such assessments inform implementing evidence-based interventions and with health outcomes documented using digital health records. This unit will further develop foundational nursing and midwifery skills (e.g medication administration, asepsis, basic life support, simple sterile dressings, intramuscular injections). The unit introduces foundational knowledge of labour, birth and post-birth care for the woman and her baby using a woman centred approach. It will include an examination of maternal nutritional requirements and oral health and how best to support women’s lactation choices. Emphasis is placed on students exploring the role of the midwife in supporting the woman experiencing physical and psychological pain across the phases of the childbearing journey, including strategies to support women and their families experiencing bereavement and perinatal loss. Students will examine holistic health needs of an individual’s maternity and/or nursing care with attention to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, other cultures and people of diversity. The principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics will be introduced to embed foundational concepts in the quality use of medicines. Students will continue to follow the two recruited women in the Continuity of Care program commenced in Foundations of Midwifery unit, until the post birth/early parenting period concludes.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Exhibit knowledge and critically reflect on the use of clinical reasoning skills in professional practice and therapeutic communication including woman-centred and patient-centred care across the lifespan;
  2. Exemplify safe midwifery and nursing foundational clinical skills;
  3. Exhibit safe midwifery practice during pregnancy, labour and birth care including assessment of the woman and her newborn, knowledge and assessment of non-pharmacological and pharmacological pain management options;
  4. Advocate for and critically reflect on support of individuals’ choices for women’s maternity care and people seeking general health care; and
  5. Implement accurate and safe medication administration.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

The assessment tasks link to the learning outcomes and graduate capabilities. In the first assessment, students will undertake a multi choice quiz. For the second assessment, students will submit a report articulating how clinical reasoning is used to develop nursing or midwifery care plans, and critically reflect on how these are utilised in professional practice. Such reflection encompasses promoting the use of evidence based safe patient/woman-centred care and exploring the legal requirements of contemporary professional documentation. The third assessment comprises students participating in a group presentation to critically appraise a contemporary midwifery topic. The fourth assessment is a face-to-face practical skills test that enables students to exemplify safe practice in the midwifery/nursing laboratory setting, prior to undertaking placement in the practice setting. The final assessment is a short answer test that will examine students’ clinical reasoning. The first hurdle is to gain 100% in a medication calculation test, the second hurdle: students must submit 2 consent forms from participants for the Continuity of Care Program.

Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 5%
Multi choice quiz (20 minutes)
Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 30%
Written report (1000 words)
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 30%
Group presentation (30 minutes)
Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 0%
Medication administration – open book self-directed (hurdle 1)
Assessment type: Practicum
|
Grade: 20%
Practical Skills Assessment
Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 15%
Short answer test (50mins)
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Consent forms (hurdle 2)

To gain an overall pass in this unit, students must attend 100% or ALL practical laboratories and clinical simulation for essential skill development as per ANMAC expectations and are required to complete and/or submit all assessments. Attendance requirements for midwifery skills laboratories and simulated-learning laboratories are integral to safe midwifery practice and preparing students for midwifery practice experience. Any absences and non-submissions must be supported with documentation to the unit convenor.

To gain an overall pass in this unit, students must submit all assessment items, and achieve an aggregate score of 50%.
To pass this unit, students must also achieve 100% for the Medication administration test (hurdle 1). Accuracy in medication administration is an absolute requirement for safe midwifery and nursing practice. Students have 2 attempts at the Medication administration test. Students will be required to attend the self-directed learning laboratory for support if they require a third attempt. Students must also submit 2 consent forms from participants for the Continuity of Care program (hurdle 2). This is a mandatory requirement to ensure that students obtain written consent from the women/pregnant person who agree to participate in the program before attending antenatal appointments.

Required reading

Skills for Midwifery Practice
de-Vitry Smith, S., Bayes, S., Johnson, R. &Taylor, W. (Eds.). (2022)| Elsevier: Chatswood, New South Wales.
Midwifery: Preparation for Practice
Pairman, S., Tracy, S.K., Dahlen, H.G. & Dixon, L. (Eds.) (2019)| Elsevier: Chatswood, New South Wales.
Clinical psychomotor skills (5-point bondy): assessment tools for nurses
Tollefson, J., & Hillman, E. (2019b)| Cengage Learning Australia Pty Ltd

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing
HBMA | Bachelor degree | Duration: 4 years

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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