What will I learn on this module?
The module will give you a strong foundation in understanding midwifery as a profession and understanding yourself as an aspiring professional. You will learn about the role of the midwife and the scope of midwifery practice, drawing on the history of the profession and exploring the NMC Code and NMC Future Midwife standards, as well as contemporary health and social care policy. Concepts such as consent, informed choice, raising concerns and confidentiality, capability and advocacy will be introduced, within the framework of The NMC Code, human rights, ethical concepts and UK Law. Professional accountability and autonomy will also be explored, alongside consideration of models of midwifery practice and collaborative working.
Reflection on personal values, attitudes and experiences and how these may impact on your developing professional practice and communication skills will be explored. Reflection on professional identity will be key to further exploration of self and the development of effective relationships with women, their families and other professional groups. There will also be exploration of social and other media as a form of communication and how these impact on midwifery practice.
Evidence based practice is central to the professional expectations of midwives. You will increase your understanding of the evidence that supports effective practice via discussion of research methodologies, methods and critical appraisal tools. You will engage with published research to enable application to midwifery practice including consideration of research ethics, consent, and service user involvement. You will consider policies and guidelines and how these are applied and understood by a range of stakeholders, including women and their families.
How will I learn on this module?
On this module you will engage with a variety of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, seminars and directed learning. Activities will be blended to create a mix of face to face and online activities supported by the University’s Electronic Learning Platform (eLP), Blackboard Ultra. Practice scenarios which illustrate women’s journeys and use women’s stories will aid in the application of theory and enable you to understand the woman’s perspective. Lectures will introduce key concepts. These will then be further explored within seminars and workshops, designed to facilitate collaborative learning, developing your inquiry and communication skills, and to signpost you to further reading and learning activities. A range of resources will be used to consolidate your research and communication skills, including technology-enhanced learning and engagement with social media. A fundamental aspect of learning on the module will come from self-reflection of your own academic and professional development, supported by your personal tutor.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
The academic staff involved in delivering this module will also provide guidance, to ensure that you are able to confidently engage with the module content. Learning materials, including directed and e-learning will be made available on the eLP. Seminars will form an opportunity for peer support and feedback throughout the module, helping you to develop the evaluation and feedback skills required for effective professional practice and lifelong learning. You will also receive formative feedback from academic staff informally during seminars, to enable you to review your learning in a safe and supportive environment. Group and individual tutorials will further support preparation for the module assessment.
In addition, 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 that located at Coach Lane Library (ground floor).
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
You will be expected to:
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Discuss the professional expectations of the midwife in relation to the NMC code.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the range of research methodologies and evaluation strategies and methods commonly used in midwifery, and their application.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Discuss effective communication skills pertinent to midwifery practice.
4. Critically appraise legal and ethical considerations in relation to midwifery research and professional practice.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Demonstrate skills of reflection and awareness of personal competence and values to inform professional development as a midwife.
How will I be assessed?
Formative Assessment:
Ongoing feedback will be available from tutors throughout the module. Seminars and assessment tutorials will utilise peer and tutor feedback to discuss proposed topics and the search strategy for essay.
Summative Assessment:
A 3000 word essay to meet the learning outcomes of the module (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Written feedback will be provided via Turnitin.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
This module focuses on the midwifery profession and the professional and academic skills required to become an effective midwife whose care will benefit women, their babies and families. Midwives make a critically important contribution to the quality and safety of maternity care. This requires a commitment to continuous professional development, personal reflection and excellent communication skills, and the skill to identify and utilise the best available evidence. Midwives need the knowledge and capability to identify and appraise the quality, appropriateness and sufficiency of the evidence used to inform and evaluate practice; thesekey skills are developed in this module. The professional expectations of midwives isalsoexplored, with a focus on the experience of women and concepts such as informed choice and consent. Ethical considerations within research and practice are explored, including the engagement of service users in research, and legal and professional issues. In addition, the module provides the opportunity to rehearse and develop advanced communication skills.
Course info
Credits 20
Level of Study Postgraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time
Department Nursing, Midwifery & Health
Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start January 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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