MW5001 - Complex Fetal & Neonatal Care

Learning on this module will be through participation in interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, simulated skills activity, for example, neonatal resuscitation and independent study. You will be guided to learning activities to complete independently in preparation for sessions. Exposure to a simulated clinical environment will prepare you authentically for the realities of practice.
You will engage in student led seminars with the opportunity to consolidate experience and knowledge as more complex aspects of fetal and newborn assessment and care are explored. Opportunities will be taken to reflect on placement learning and facilitate your understanding of the theory –practice relationship ensuring you are appropriate prepared as a midwife.
The module resources will be accessible via the electronic learning platform. Access to external expert e-learning resources will enhance the module with an interactive and informative learning experience; these include the NHS Antenatal and Newborn Screening (NSC) e-learning package and NIPE e-learning. The UNICEF (2025) Baby-friendly website is also an invaluable module resource to support your learning.

In-class and online formative tests will be used throughout the module, to allow you to assess your personal learning. Support will include feedback from tutors during group work within interactive lectures and seminars, which will allow for knowledge checking and questions to be answered promptly. The seminars will also provide an opportunity for you to receive feedback on how your academic abilities are developing. Resources will be available to you on the electronic learning platform, BlackBoard Ultra (BBU) and tutors can be contacted for support. A group tutorial will provide academic support focussed on the assessment task.
Adhering to Universal Design for Learning principles, two options for authentic assessment are offered in this module, allowing students to optimise choice and autonomy to support engagement and demonstrate learning and capability.

The University Libraries at both Coach Lane Campus and City Campus offer an extensive collection of material, both hard copy and electronic, access to international databases and training in information retrieval. The module will be supported by University library staff and resources, including study skills support packages. 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 include those located in both university libraries.

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. You will demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding of the determinants of health and ill health in the fetus and newborn.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. You will relate a critical awareness of the evidence-base, applying a solution focused approach to the promotion of wellbeing for the fetus and newborn infant.

3. You will identify and appraise the skills necessary to assess, implement and evaluate care for the vulnerable fetus and newborn.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. You will reflect on your professional attributes and ability to provide care in the context of complex and stressful situations addressed in this module.

Formative:
You will receive formative feedback on directed study activities and your contribution to discussion and participation in student led seminars. Module tutors will also provide feedback during workshop and simulation activities and direct this to progress in achieving all MLO’s.
Specific workshop on case study development will provide an opportunity for further peer/ tutor feedback to inform the assessment.

Summative: assessing module learning outcomes MLOs 1,2,3,4

Option 1: Case Study based on an aspect of complex neonatal care (2500-word essay).

Option 2: 20-minute presentation with 5-minutes of questions of a poster (1000-words) and annotated bibliography (1000-words) based on an aspect of complex neonatal care

MLO’s 1-4; 100%

Marking rubric and qualitative feedback in BBU.

N/A

N/A

The Quality Maternal and Newborn Care (QMNC) Framework identifies that midwives have a substantial impact on the health and wellbeing of newborn infants, reducing mortality and improving outcomes. This module will equip you to provide effective care for the normal healthy infant and plan care for those infants who are known in pregnancy to be likely to experience complications that will arise from being born pre-term or have experienced intrauterine growth restriction. You will develop your ability to identify those who may need further intervention and/ or referral to other professionals, including being able to undertake first line emergency measures to support a baby who needs resuscitation or other interventions at birth. The module will introduce the knowledge and skills required to undertake Newborn and Infant Physical Examination and make use of a range of online learning resources. The UNICEF (2025) UK baby friendly standards are fundamental to neonatal care and as such, the module will address infant feeding in more complex circumstances. Assessment options include essay or a presentation so that you can apply your knowledge of the fetus/neonate with more complex needs