| Effective Term: | 2025/08 |
| 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 - 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 |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| | 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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