Physical Assessment and Care of the Newborn - Level 6 - AC6698
Delivered as part of the Health and Social Practice Framework

Designed by a multi-professional team including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Midwives, Social Care Staff and Medical practitioners our range of Continuing Workforce Development (CWD) is tailored towards individuals who are driving and enabling practice development in NHS North East.

Northumbria is the principal provider of nurse education in the North East of England and was named Nurse Education Provider of the Year (post-registration) for three consecutive years by Student Nursing Times.

We have excellent relationships with partner services in health, social care and social work and our range of CPD provision supports practitioners and managers to engage in professional learning and then examine how this can be integrated in the practice arena.

You will learn through a series of online learning packages supported by group sessions with the module tutor; these will inform and be informed by your personal practice experience. The supervised clinical experience will develop your newborn examination skills that include history taking and clinical decision making. You will become increasingly skilled and confident in performing the physical examination and in determining the appropriate care and referral plan when necessary. Skills will be developed and rehearsed in the practice setting under the supervision of an experienced Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) practitioner.

You will be signposted to directed and independent study learning activities, and guided to access and review contemporary evidence and research which will inform your critique of practice in newborn examination and care. You will be registered to access the NIPE e-learning module which uses film clips and animation to illustrate best practice and provide students with an interactive and informative learning experience. The module team will be available for support during the module; formative feedback will be provided during the Supervised examinations, and will also be available from the module tutor through online methods. Reflective practice will be an important component during the module and you will be encouraged to review your personal journey of extending your role and in determining a personal strategy for practice.

Northumbria University’s e-Learning portal (ELP) will allow you remote access to the library resources.

As this module is fully online there is no classroom sessions. You will have access to the full University online TEL (Technology Enhanced learning) offering. The module lead is based at Coach Lane Campus. 

Northumbria University has been ranked in the top quartile in the UK for research power in Allied Health Sciences and Nursing. Additionally, more than 80% of our research activity in Allied Health Sciences and Nursing is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2014).

On successful completion of the module you will be recognised as a Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) practitioner, this provides opportunity for you to accept enhanced professional responsibility and involvement with an extended aspect of practice that is engaging and rewarding. Recognition as a NIPE practitioner is increasingly beneficial when competing for new employment in the maternity service.