MW0523 - Developing Skilled Midwifery Practice

This year long module provides you with the theoretical knowledge to enable learning from a diverse range of clinical learning contexts in which midwives are explicitly demonstrating proficient midwifery practice. This is the second practice module in your programme and requires demonstration that you can contribute to women's care with decreasing supervision and direction (SPM 1.1). In the clinical learning context this means that the interrelationship between the supervising midwife and the student midwife adapts as appropriate to the learning opportunities as the students' skills from year one develop. This enables more participation and less observation where appropriate.

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 and rehearse emergency maternity skills in a simulated environment (b) flow from practice learning into university learning, for example directed reflection on clinical experiences with exploration of the relevant theory and research/evidence base. There will be opportunities to learn from your real-life experiences and those of your peers as well as case scenarios applicable to your placement stream.

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 SimNewbie to create ‘close to reality’ scenarios to promote skill and knowledge development.

Your Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) continues in this module and provides the evidence of the achievement of the skills articulated in Domain six of the Standards of Proficiency for Midwives (NMC 2019). 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); You will use the skills associated with being an empowered learner to interpret Practice Supervisor feedback and offer appropriate responses and actions. Practice Supervisors (PS) will facilitate the learning identified by the PA and AA as relevant for this stage of your programme. It is expected that Universal Midwifery Skills are well developed.

In relation to your ongoing development as a professional, your skills and knowledge will be enhanced and applied to the expectations of the NMC Code (2018). In order to provide care in complex situations you will develop your knowledge and skills in relation to patient safety, referral and decision-making. These areas of practice require that you are able to understand and work across professional boundaries, recognising the impact of the context of care provision on the personal and professional leadership skills you need to demonstrate in practice.

As with all modules on the programme, successful achievement requires a robust system of support and guidance to help focus your learning needs. You will be supported in both the academic and practice learning environments. In university, lecturers and guidance tutors will provide you with support to develop your academic and clinical skills.

In clinical practice, your Practice Assessor, Practice supervisors and Academic Assessors will guide and support you to identify your learning needs to support and prepare you to meet the learning outcomes that will be assessed.

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. Discuss and apply the relevant theory that underpins care practices through which midwives may meet the needs of women who require additional care and or emergency care across the childbirth continuum.

2. Demonstrate and discuss the care required to ensure the wellbeing the fetus/neonate, including when challenges, complications or long-term conditions are present.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Perform a variety of specified clinical skills safely and effectively.

4. Critique the role of the midwife in maintaining a safe and supportive environment for women and infants experiencing complex care pathways.

5. Demonstrate safe medicines practice, including the required numeracy skills for medicines practice.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
6. Identify and reflect upon your ability to communicate with women, families and members of the multidisciplinary team during difficult/stressful occasions.
7. Demonstrate and debate the principles of ethical and professional midwifery practice adhering to the NMC Code.

Formative assessment will include on-line learning materials, relating to childbirth emergencies, pathophysiology and high dependency care which will enable you to self-assess your learning needs.

You will receive ongoing feedback from tutors during skills teaching and group practical's, tutorials and seminars.

You will be guided to consider the evidence required to inform the practice assessment.
In the clinical area, formal formative review of your progress by your Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessor is embedded within the MORA.

Summative:
1. MORA –Achievement of the identified year two proficiencies: Pass /Fail (includes Safe Medicate)
MLO 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

2. Case based Observed Structured Clinical Assessment of a range of childbirth emergencies; 30 minutes MLO 1, 2,4 (100%)

N/A

N/A

Building on the skills and knowledge developed in year one and applying your theoretical learning from this and other modules, you will be able to demonstrate and discuss the care required to monitor the wellbeing of a woman and her fetus/neonate when challenges, emergencies or additional care needs are present. As midwives are pivotal in organising and referring women to the appropriate health professionals, learning in this module will enable you to identify deviations from the normal, institute emergency measures and/or refer to other professionals, and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the women and their babies. The Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) will support your learning in practice and provide evidence for your assessment in practice. There will also be a simulated clinical assessment of your skills in relation to childbirth emergencies.