Inherent Requirements for Graduate Certificate of Midwifery
1. Ethical Behaviour
Introduction
Midwifery is a profession governed by Standards for Practice, Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct where midwives are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts.
Description
Student demonstrates developing knowledge of, and engages in, ethical behaviour in practice.
Justification
Compliance with the standards, codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people they engage with. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing for all.
Adjustments
Must ensure the standards, codes, guidelines and policies are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour.
Exemplars
- Demonstrating appropriate behaviour with confidential information in classroom and professional practice settings.
- Demonstrate appropriate behaviour when working with women/birthing people from diverse backgrounds.
2. Behavioural Stability
Introduction
Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.
Description
Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and professional practice environment.
Justification
Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Midwifery students will be exposed to the intimate process of a woman’s/birthing person’s pregnancy, labour and birth, and post birth period which may include complex and emergency situations. Midwifery students will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally, and demonstrate effective interprofessional communication.
Adjustments
Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and professional practice settings.
Exemplars
- Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.
- Coping effectively with own emotions and behaviour when working with women/birthing people and their families during their maternity experience.
3. Legal
Introduction
Midwifery practice is mandated by specific legislation to enable the safe delivery of care.
Description
Student demonstrates developing knowledge of Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice, and consistently complies with these requirements.
Justification
Knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary prerequisites to professional practice placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
Compliance with professional regulations and laws ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.
Adjustments
Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements.
Exemplars
- Complying with relevant child protection and safety legislation.
- Complying with relevant drugs and poisons legislation.
4a. Communication (verbal)
Introduction
Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences, including the ability to engage in culturally safe verbal interactions.
- Ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriate and in a timely manner.
- Ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation.
- Timely clear feedback and reporting.
Justification
Communication in a way that displays respect, empathy and cultural safety, and develops trusting relationships.
Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual safety, treatment and management.
Adjustments
Must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care.
Exemplars
- Responding appropriately to a care request in the practice environment.
- Effectively communicating verbally with other health professionals in emergency situations.
4b. Communication (non-verbal)
Introduction
Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to midwifery and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic and non-judgemental.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- Capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues.
- Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours.
- Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences, including the ability to engage in culturally safe interactions that respect the values, beliefs and practices.
Justification
The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships.
Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time, boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships.
Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences including awareness of culturally specific non-verbal communication styles, displays respect and empathy to others, supports culturally safe practice, and develops trusting relationships.
The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for safe and effective observation of a woman’s/birthing person’s and/or their baby’s symptoms and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of women/birthing people and/or their baby.
Adjustments
Must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.
Exemplars
- Recognise and respond appropriately to non-verbal cues when undertaking an antenatal booking history.
- Recognise non-verbal cues to identify the stages of labour.
4c. Communication (Written)
Introduction
Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental midwifery responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
Description
Student demonstrates capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
Justification
Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice.
Accurate written communication, including record-keeping and women’s/birthing people’s and their baby’s notes, is vital to provide consistent and safe midwifery care.
Adjustments
Must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and professional practice standards.
Exemplars
- Constructing an essay to academic standards.
- Documenting midwifery notes in a woman’s/birthing person’s maternity record in a timely manner that meets professional standards.
5a. Knowledge and cognitive skills
Introduction
Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and competent midwifery care.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information.
- Ability to process information relevant to practice.
- Ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice.
Justification
Safe and effective delivery of midwifery care is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.
Adjustments
Must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.
Exemplars
- Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
- Applying knowledge of policy and procedures in the practice setting.
5b. Literacy (language)
Introduction
Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective delivery of midwifery care.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- Ability to accurately acquire information and convey appropriate, effective messages.
- Ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information.
- Capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.
Justification
The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care.
The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective delivery of midwifery care.
Adjustments
Must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information.
Exemplars
- Conveying spoken instructions accurately and clearly.
- Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.
- Producing accurate, concise and clear midwifery case notes which meet legal requirements.
5c. Numeracy
Introduction
Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective midwifery care.
Description
Student demonstrates the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.
Justification
Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in midwifery to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of midwifery care.
Adjustments
Must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner.
Exemplars
- Performing accurate drug calculations.
- Demonstrating accurate recording of a fluid balance chart.
6a. Sensory ability (visual)
Introduction
Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective midwifery care.
Description
Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.
Justification
Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care to self and others.
Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective midwifery practice.
Adjustments
Must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.
Exemplars
- Accurately drawing up medication to administer.
- Observing and detecting subtle changes in a newborn’s colour.
6b. Sensory ability (auditory)
Introduction
Auditory ability is required for safe and effective practice.
Description
Student demonstrates sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.
Justification
Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage an individual's health needs consistently and accurately.
Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective practice.
Adjustments
Must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing loss must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.
Exemplars
Accurately record and interact with spoken information and instructions. Follow and participate in discussions with other healthcare professionals regarding patients.
Listen for diagnostics cues in patient presentations eg wheezing, coughing.
Observe auditory alarms, warning s and directions in the workplace and university environments.
6c. Sensory ability (tactile)
Introduction
Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe midwifery care.
Description
Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of skills and assessments.
Justification
Sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect a woman’s/birthing person’s physical and pregnancy related characteristics and act on any deviation detected to provide thorough midwifery care.
Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective midwifery practice.
Adjustments
Must have the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames.
Exemplars
- Detect any changes in haemostasis using observations such as pulse and BP.
- Conduct an abdominal palpation in pregnancy and during labour, and detect a deviation from normal eg. Breech presentation.
7a. Strength and mobility (gross motor skills)
Introduction
Midwifery is a profession that involves physical demands and requires gross motor function.
Description
Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within scope of practice.
Justification
Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate sufficient strength, coordination, range of movement and independent mobility to perform these tasks consistently and safely to meet safe and effective practice needs in a time-constrained environment.
Adjustments
Should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.
Exemplars
- Maintaining balance while safely mobilising and transferring newborns.
- Provide women/birthing people with support in any birth position they choose.
- Able to safely retrieve and utilise stock and equipment.
7b. Strength and mobility (fine motor skills)
Introduction
Midwifery is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
Description
Student demonstrates the ability to use fine motor skills to function within scope of practice.
Justification
Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform the required level of care. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Midwifery students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
Adjustments
Should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.
Exemplars
- Performing the insertion of a urinary catheter.
- Able to prime, accurately insert and set prescribed rate on an infusion device.
- Able to conduct a vaginal examination to determine the presentation and position of the fetus during labour.
8. Sustainable performance
Introduction
Midwifery practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time.
- The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately.
- The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time.
Justification
Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective care.
Adjustments
Must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
Exemplars
- Maintain safe practice when physical requirements are demanding.
- Undertake repetitive assessments on women/birthing people in labour and accurately interpret and adjust care according to assessment findings.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.