MW7001 Foundation Skills for Midwifery Practice (0 ECTS)

 

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

Communication and Therapeutic Use of Self

• Begin to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with the woman and her family in a way which enhances a partnership approach to care;
  
• Demonstrate the ability to use communication skills to develop effective professional relationships with peers and the multi disciplinary team;
  
• Demonstrate an attitude to practice that conveys respect for persons;
  
• Begin to demonstrate the ability to use effective communication to enhance the quality of the woman's (and her family's) experience of pregnancy and childbirth;
  
• Demonstrate an increased self-awareness of their practice and communication skills and an ability to critically reflect on and evaluate these.
  
• Safety in the Practice Environment
  
• Demonstrate a confident and competent approach to infection control in their own practices;
  
• At all time demonstrate a consciousness of health and safety of women and their families;
  
• At all times demonstrate a consciousness and awareness of their own health and safety and that of all other professionals;
  
• Discuss the processes of developing health and safety policies in maternity hospitals and in the wider community.
  

Assessment, Monitoring and Practice Skills

• Demonstrate the ability to safely perform selected practice skills which will provide the foundation on which to build more comprehensive assessment, monitoring and practice skills, thus enabling safe and effective care of women and their babies;
  
• Begin to demonstrate the ability to assess the needs of individual women, their babies and their families;
  
• Recognise the limitations of their own knowledge and practice;
  
• Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to access appropriate midwifery and medical assistance when confronted with anticipated and unanticipated events requiring emergency aid.
  

Pharmacology for Midwifery Practice

• Demonstrate knowledge of pharmacological principles;
  
• Discuss the range, effects and side effects of the main pharmacological preparations used in pregnancy, labour, the puerperium and neonatology;
  
• Demonstrate an understanding of the legal framework underpinning drug prescribing, administration and use in pregnancy, labour, the puerperium and neonatology;
  
• Demonstrate the ability to address all aspects relating to the storage and administration of medications in midwifery practice.

The Midwife and Midwifery Profession

• Outline the activities of the midwife and relate these to national legislation;
  
• Describe the activities of midwives in Ireland;
  
• Outline the legislation that affects/influences midwifery practice in Ireland;
  
• Outline the statutory body's publications in relation to the role of the midwife in Ireland;
  
• Outline any significant legislative changes that may alter the status of the midwife in Ireland.

Module Learning Aims & Rationale

Foundation skills for midwifery practice introduce midwifery students to the profession and practice of
midwifery. Its focus is on acquiring the skills, knowledge and attaining the attitude and approach to
practice that permits them to give safe, effective midwifery care to women and their families. The focus is
on recognising the unique partnership between women and midwives, awareness of women's individual
needs and beginning to develop an awareness of foundation skills, which are required to ensure that
practice, is safe. This module will also introduce midwifery students to the profession of midwifery, its
philosophy and the factors that impact on the midwife: education, legislation, practice (and boundaries) and historical issues.
This module will also begin talk about sources of midwifery knowledge. It begins to immerse midwifery
students in midwifery knowledge by introducing them to the sources of the seminal readings and
research. It is also designed to introduce students to the essential concepts/components upon which midwifery is based.
The aim of this module is to enable midwifery students to acquire the knowledge, skills and approach to
midwifery practice to develop effective therapeutic relationships with women, to begin to work with
midwives and others providing care for women whilst maintaining the safety of women their babies and
themselves.

Recommended Reading List

Indicative Resources

• An Bord Altranais (2000) The Code of Conduct for each Nurse and Midwife, 2nd edn. An Bord Altranais, Dublin.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2000) Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework. An Bord Altranais, Dublin.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2007) Guidance to Nurses and Midwives on Medication Management. An Bord Altranais, Dublin.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2005) Requirements and Standards for the Midwife Registration Education Programme, 3rd edn. An Bord Altranais, Dublin.
  
• An Bord Altranais (2010) Practice Standards for Midwives. An Bord Altranais, Dublin.
  
• Briggs G., Freedman R. and Yaffe, S. (2008) Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: a reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk, 8th edn. Williams and Wilkins, London.
  
• Downe S. (ed.) (2008) Normal Childbirth: Evidence and Debate, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, London.
  
• Fraser D.M. and Cooper M.A. (eds.) (2009) Myles Textbook for Midwives, 15th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
  
• Henderson C. and MacDonald S. (eds.) (2004) Mayes' Midwifery: A Textbook for Midwives, 13th edn. Bailliere Tindall, London.
  
• Johnson R. and Taylor W. (2010) Skills for Midwifery Practice, 3nd edn. Churchill Livingstone Edinburgh.
  
• Jordan S. (2010) Pharmacology for Midwives: the Evidence Base for Safe Practice, 2nd edn. Palgrave, Basingstoke.
  
• Lee A., Inch S. and Finnigan D. (2000) Therapeutics in Pregnancy and Lactation. Radcliffe, Oxford.
  
• Page L. and McCandish R. (eds.) (2006) The New Midwifery: Science and Sensitivity in Practice, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
  
• Proctor S. and Renfrew M. (eds.) (2000) Linking Research and Practice in Midwifery: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice. Balliere Tindall, London.
  
• Way S. (2000) Core Skills for Midwifery Practice. Books for Midwives Press, Manchester.

* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning.