MW0420 - Foundations of Skilled Midwifery Practice

This year long module provides you with the theoretical knowledge to enable learning from a diverse range of learning opportunities. This is the first practice module in your programme and involves observation and participation in a wide variety of settings, acknowledging where midwives support women and the interprofessional and multiagency context in which they make their professional contribution. In these settings you will gain an appreciation of and begin to participate predominantly in care in which midwives apply their Universal Midwifery Skills. In the clinical learning context this means that the oversight of the supervising midwife adapts as appropriate to the learning opportunities and the developing skills and knowledge of the student, enabling the student to demonstrate their learned skills.

In order to support the application of theory into the practice context the module expects:

(a) flow from university learning into practice learning, for example, you will learn about the principles and rehearse midwifery practice skills in a simulated environment. The use of simulated learning is integral throughout this module ranging from group role play/discussions, through to the use of high-fidelity Sim Mom and Sim Newbie to create ‘close to reality’ scenarios to promote knowledge and skill development.

To support and self-monitor the development and appreciation of skills, students participate in peer review opportunities throughout this year there will be:

(b) flow from practice learning into university learning, for example facilitated reflection on clinical experiences with exploration of the relevant theory and research/evidence base (SPM 1.27).

There will be opportunities to learn from service users, for example in relation to infant feeding, your own real-life experiences and those of your peers, as well as case scenarios applicable to your clinical learning experiences.

Your Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) starts in this module (SPM1.23). You will draw on the experiences you are gaining in other modules to effectively manage your own learning and with the support of your Practice Assessor (PA) and Academic Assessor (AA); throughout this year you will begin to develop the skills associated with becoming an empowered learner who can identify and respond to their own learning needs. Practice Supervisors (PS) will facilitate the learning identified by the PA (and AA where relevant) as required for this stage of your programme. The proficiencies required in each year of your programme are identified within the MORA.

You will be introduced to a variety of learning opportunities including directed study, practical sessions, and seminars. You will be introduced to peer review in the practical sessions to consider strengths and areas for development in future practice skills, which will prepare you for review in clinical practice. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of evidence-based care and the guidance available to inform practice. As with all modules on the programme, successful achievement requires a robust system of support and guidance to help you focus your learning needs. You will be supported in both academic and practice learning environments.

In university, your Lecturers and Personal Tutors and Academic Assessors will signpost you to support services available at the university to develop your academic and clinical skills. For practice, your Practice Assessor, Practice Supervisors and Academic Assessor will guide and support you to identify your learning needs through regular practice placement review and support you to identify your learning development opportunities to prepare you to meet the specified practice proficiencies for assessment.

Your module team will introduce you to the extensive online support to enable you to participate in the University’s commitment to technology enhanced learning. The University’s e-Learning Portal offers remote access to learning materials used by tutors and signposts you to a range of resources that complement and reinforce face-to-face learning.

The University Library can help you develop a variety of learning skills, including academic writing, academic reading, searching, and referencing. You can access the interactive training via the library webpages or the following link: http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/learning-skills

Ask4Help online (accessed through your student portal) provides a comprehensive range of answers to frequently asked questions and is of benefit to students as a central point of reference for information about many different topics. Ask4Help face to face service points are located at Coach Lane Library (ground floor).

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Identify and describe the relevant theory that underpins care practices through which midwives may promote normal healthy pregnancy, birth and puerperium.

2. Participate in and discuss the care required to monitor the wellbeing of a woman and her fetus/neonate in pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

3. Perform a variety of specified clinical skills safely and effectively.

4. Recognise the autonomy and accountability in midwifery practice and the limits of own capability

5. Demonstrate developing proficiency in the communication skills required to provide personalised care.

6. Participate in a range of assessment, screening, care and support measures for woman and neonates.

7. Participate safely in the administration of medicines and demonstrate numeracy with introduction to Safe Medicate or equivalent drug calculation/ medicines management exam platform.

8. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to work within clinical services that meet the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards to support babies, mothers and families.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

9. Demonstrate and discuss the basic principles of ethical and professional midwifery care, in line with the NMC Code.

Formative Assessment

Informal formative assessment through peer, practice learning colleagues and tutor feedback throughout the module and practice learning.

Formal formative assessment at key points in practice learning (these are defined in the MORA)

MLO 1, 2, 3, 4

Summative Assessment 1: Pass/Fail

Recording of an educational video (5 minutes max in length) for women to systematically demonstrate practical aspects of infant feeding support, underpinned by the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative standards. This will be accompanied by a self-reflection on own performance (no more than 500 words).

MLO 1, 2, 3, 6, 8

Feedback through ESAF platform via marking rubric and qualitative feedforward comments

Summative Assessment 2: Pass/Fail

Practice evidence that MORA has been completed for Domain 6 proficiencies relevant to this stage in the programme.

MLO 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

Feedback from Practice Assessor as part of summative holistic assessment review.

N/A

N/A

This first year module will introduce you to a range of midwifery skills for contemporary practice, supporting your first practice placement experiences. Practice learning focuses introducing you to women-centred partnership working, in which you will be afforded the opportunity to develop the skills you have acquired in the university setting and rehearse these under direct supervision of your Practice Supervisor (a registered midwife). Whilst developing skills for universal and additional care, you will learn how to deliver safe and effective evidence-based midwifery practice. The module will be assessed through a self-review of own performance in explaining and developing key practical skills from the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative. This is complimented by a holistic review of practice performance by the Practice Supervisors, Practice Assessors, and your Academic Assessor, in which you will utilise your continuity experience and practice learning progression and achievements to demonstrate how you have met the module learning outcomes.