James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2020

NS5133 - Healthy Labour, Birth and the Puerperium

Subject Description

This subject is underpinned by the primary health care principles of woman centred and value base care. The focus is to develop knowledge and skills that enable safe and appropriate care to labouring and birthing women. Content includes, supporting physiological and pharmacological knowledge and midwifery skills related to women and their families in normal labour, birth and the puerperium. The role of the midwife in establishing and supporting breastfeeding will be developed. Students will explore the physiological adaptation of the well neonate to extra uterine life. Examination of the well newborn will be introduced.

Learning Outcomes

• critically analyse the concept of value based care for midwifery practice in accordance with NMBA Midwifery Standards for Practice (2018) when caring for well women and their families during labour and birth
• describe the physiology of normal labour, birth and the puerperium, including initiation of lactation
• explain the physiological adaptations required by the healthy mother and fetus during labour, birth and the puerperium to develop a midwifery care plan, including pharmacological and non- pharmacological support, for the mother and her family
• describe the World Health Organization's (WHO) 10 steps to successful breastfeeding and the 7 point plan for supporting breastfeeding in the community

Subject Assessment

• Invigilated > End of semester exam - (50%)
• Submission of professional experiences: evidence of attendance at 25 antenatal visits; attendance at 25 postnatal visits; 15 being with women in labour and birth as the primary accoucher; 20 complex midwifery care experiences; 5 continuity of care experiences completed; 5 more continuity of care experiences recruited; 6 clinical competencies; 2 student evaluation forms from clinical placement; complete 20 examinations of the well neonate. [Sat/Unsat]
• Non-Invigilated > Assignments - (50%)
• Four online quizzes as hurdles. Students must compete and gain a minimum mark of 70% on each quiz in order to pass the subject
• Complete professional portfolio [Sat/Unsat]

Note that 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.

Special Assessment Requirements

Examinations may be scheduled outside the regular University examination period - refer to NM Year Planner. Pass requirements: complete and submit all assessment items; achieve a satisfactory grade for the professional portfolio; achieve a satisfactory grade for Professional Experience requirements; achieve at least 50% in the formal examination; achieve a cumulative score of at least 50% for the subject.

Availabilities