Care of the Neonate with Increased Needs

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2025/05
Institute / School :Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Unit Title: Care of the Neonate with Increased Needs
Unit ID: MIDGD6204
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): (MIDGD6001 or MIDGD6201)
Co-requisite(s): (MIDGD6203)
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 060303
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

This unit builds on previous knowledge of the well neonate. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of high-quality evidence-based neonatal care and build their skills in assessing, planning and managing the care of the neonate with complex health needs. Students will develop an understanding of multidisciplinary care and collaborative practice with consideration of family-centred and culturally safe care, and engages them to reflect and think critically to enhance, shape and improve clinical practice and neonatal outcomes. In addition, students will develop an understanding of the socio-cultural elements surrounding the care of the unwell newborn and their families.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
Placement Component: No
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 CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                        
Advanced                                                
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
Skills:
Application of knowledge and skills:
Unit Content:

The ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (draft 3 2020); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for the Midwife (2018) and Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit.
Adaptation to extra-uterine life
• Neonatal resuscitation
• Comprehensive assessment of the newborn 
• Birth asphyxia 
• Neonatal resuscitation   
• Stabilisation and transfer
• Gestational age assessment
• Levels of care – Victorian Health Service Capability Framework
Care of the unwell neonate
• NSQHS Recognising and responding to acute deterioration standard
• Principles of nursing care of the unwell infant
• Hygiene, skin care and elimination
• Neonatal assessment and monitoring
• Respiratory disorders
• Jaundice
• NSQHS Preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections standard
• Infection
• Hypoglycaemia
• Preterm and small for gestational age babies
• Neurological disorders - Seizures and birth trauma
• Pain management
• Neonatal abstinence syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• The twin and higher order multiple birth 
• Common chromosomal abnormalities 
• Developmental care
Nutrition
• Skills for promoting initiation and maintenance of lactation when the baby is unable to suckle
• Nutritional needs of the unwell baby
• Artificial feeding including specialist formulas and supplements
• Breast feeding challenges –
o Gavage feeding 
o Premature neonate 
o specialist equipment: feeding line, Habermann feeder
Pharmacology
• NSQHS Medication safety standard
• Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics
• Pharmacology: Drug and fluid calculations:
• Quality use of medicines in the neonate
• IV / UV cannulation
• IV therapy
Family centred care
• Family centred care
• Additional consideration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• Enabling and empowering family participation in care of the neonate
• Discharge planning
• Ethico-legal issues
• Child protection and Family First

Graduate Attributes:
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeightingProfessional Standards
Adopted Reference Style: 

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency