| Effective Term: | 2026/08 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Complex Midwifery Practice |
| Unit ID: | MIDBM3106 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (MIDBM2004) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 060303 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This practice unit will focus on students developing their knowledge and skills relating to obstacles and emergencies that women may experience during pregnancy, labour and birth and the first weeks after birth. Emphasis is given to the recognition of problems and the collaborative and referral role of the midwife whilst maintaining a woman-centred focus. Midwifery and obstetric management of childbearing obstacles will be explored. Students will develop their existing knowledge/skills by working with women and collaborating with other members of the healthcare team when problems arise during pregnancy, labour & birth and in the care of the mother and baby in the first weeks after birth. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | Yes - 25 days |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | |  | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Identify conditions that contribute to complexity in pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum |
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| K2. | Examine specific medical and obstetric conditions that affect childbearing |
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| K3. | Explore pathophysiology of at-risk, complex pregnancy, labour and birth and its implications for midwifery practice |
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| K4. | Identify factors that indicate potential for maternal and/or unborn baby life threatening emergencies |
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| K5. | Describe the management of a range of emergencies in pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Undertake comprehensive assessment of women and their babies during the childbearing process |
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| S2. | Employ skills in the management of emergencies in childbearing |
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| S3. | Utilise critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills to provide safe woman-centred care throughout the childbirth continuum regardless of the complexity |
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| S4. | Demonstrate the ability to practice within a multidisciplinary team in an environment of complexity |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Utilise knowledge from the biosciences applicable to the woman experiencing a complex pregnancy and childbirth |
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| A2. | Evaluate the implications of obstetric interventions for the woman, baby and for midwifery practice |
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| A3. | Apply clinical decision-making process to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex care required by the woman, baby and the family |
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| A4. | Demonstrate midwifery competency based on the NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice |
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| Unit Content: |
The ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (2021); NMBA National Competency Standards for the Midwife (2018); NMBA Code of Professional Conduct for the Midwife (2018) and International Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit. - Pregnancy and health screening methods
- Assessment of fetal well-being and growth restriction, fetal surveillance and fetal compromise
- Pregnancy complicated by a medical or surgical condition
- Impact on pregnancy of pre-existing medical problems, and impact of pregnancy on pre-existing conditions
- Variations from normal in the first, second & third trimester of pregnancy
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Diabetes, Infections in pregnancy, Hypertensive conditions: gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, HELLP and DIC, Thromboembolic disease in pregnancy, Liver disease in pregnancy
- VBAC, 3rd and 4th degree perineal lacerations
- Emergencies in labour, postpartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, obstructed labour, ruptured uterus, uterine inversion, cord prolapse, vasa praevia, amniotic fluid embolism
- Shock, collapse, deterioration, maternal resuscitation, MET calls, ISBAR
- National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (2017) clinical care focussed on Standard 8 – Recognising and responding to acute deterioration
- Postpartum challenges: physical and psychological, emotional wellbeing, sepsis, retained products
- Breastfeeding challenges
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| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | S3, S4, A2, A3 | Working in a multidisciplinary team with women and families experiencing unexpected outcomes. | Debate &/or written task | 20-40% | | 2. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S2 | Theoretical concepts and skills required for complicated pregnancy, labour, birth, postnatal and care of the neonate. | Test Part A – Objective Structured Clinical Test (OSCE) Part B – Written test | Part A: 10-30% Part B 40-60% | | 3. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A3, A4 | Satisfactory achievement of identified NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice in midwifery practice experiences. Assessment of Midwifery Practice (Compulsory PASS required). Continuity of Care experience. | Midwifery Practice Portfolio 1. Completion of five (5) Clinical Assessment Tools (CAT) to a ‘proficient’ level. 2. Completion of 200 midwifery practice hours. Submit completed AMSAT. 3. Recruit a further three (3) women for continuity of care experiences. | 5-15% | | 4. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S2 | Successful completion of Objective Structured Clinical Test (OSCE) | Objective Structured Clinical Test (OSCE) | S/U Hurdle | | 5. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A3, A4 | Successful completion of Midwifery Practice Portfolio 1. Completion of five (5) Clinical Assessment Tools (CAT) to a ‘proficient’ level. 2. Completion of 200 midwifery practice hours. Submit completed AMSAT. | Midwifery Practice Portfolio | S/U Hurdle |
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