Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MID3011

 
TITLE Postnatal Care Related to Practice

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 12

 
DEPARTMENT Midwifery

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit is targeted to third year students. It is specifically designed to build on previous practical study-units where students had developed the skills associated with provision of antenatal care to pregnant mothers. This study-unit will support students to develop the necessary knowledge and skills needed to carry out a postnatal examination of the mother and a daily examination of the newborn.

Hence, this study-unit provides the students with an opportunity to adopt a holistic approach to midwifery practice and highlights the importance of continuity of care to clients.

This study-unit will also consist of lectures and practical sessions to teach the student the correct manual handling techniques in patient care scenarios. The lectures concentrate on the background theory and legal implications of manual handling. The practical sessions consist of closely supervised teaching sessions on the techniques required to move and handle a patient or an inanimate load safely and effectively. This will be done in a lab situation.

Study-Unit Aims:

The aims of this study-unit are to:
- Enable students to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out a postnatal examination of the mother and a daily examination of the newborn;
- Provide the students with the necessary midwifery skills needed to care for the mother and her baby in the postnatal ward and in the community (after being discharged from the hospital);
- The aim of this study-unit is to enable students of the health care professions to obtain the competence of moving and handling a patient or an inanimate load safely and effectively, while following international standards.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Understand the physiological changes that occur after a woman gives birth;
- Discuss the relevance of assessing the height, position and tone of the uterus during the postnatal period;
- Discuss the role and responsibilities of the midwife when carrying out a postnatal examination;
- Describe the daily examination of the baby;
- Discuss the role and responsibilities of the midwife in relation to daily examination of the baby;
- Understand the importance of maintaining detailed record keeping;
- Explain the principles of correct manual handling when moving a patient;
- Explain the principles of correct manual handling when moving a load;
- List the fundamental regulations associated with manual handling and lifting;
- Analyse the principles of applied body mechanics in moving and lifting;
- List the risk factors associated with manual handling;
- Describe the principles of ergonomics in manual handling scenarios;
- Interpret the legal obligations of the employer and the employee regarding lifting and manual handling.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Carry out a postnatal examination and be able to assess the different needs of the woman during this time;
- Detect deviations from normal findings when carrying out the postnatal examination and take the necessary midwifery actions;
- Carry out a daily examination of the newborn thoroughly and competently;
- Detect abnormal findings when examining the newborn and refer accordingly;
- Maintain accurate records of clinical practice;
- Provide postnatal information, discharge planning and general advice to the mother;
- Assess a situation for risks to the safety of the patient and the health care professional;
- Construct a plan of action for the safe moving and handling of a patient or a targeted load;
- Carry out correct manual handling techniques;
- Carry out correct lifting techniques; and
- Communicating on the correct handling techniques with other members of the team involved in handling, including the patient and the caregiver.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Marshall, J. E., & Raynor, M. D. (2020). Myles' Textbook for Midwives (17th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Health Sciences.
- MacDonald, S., & Magill-Cuerden, J. (2023). Mayes' Midwifery: A Textbook for Midwives (16th ed.) Edinburgh: Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Johnson R., Taylor W. (2022). Skills for Midwifery Practice (5th ed.). London: Churchill Livingstone.
- Byrom, S., Edwards, G., & Bick, D. (2010). Essential Midwifery Practice: Postnatal Care. Blackwell Publishing.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
http://justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8890&l=1
- GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK PLACES REGULATIONS
http://justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=10723&l=1
- PROTECTION AGAINST RISKS OF BACK INJURY AT WORK PLACES REGULATIONS
http://justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=10722&l=1
- Manual Handling at Work (NHS UK)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.pdf
- Mandelstam, M. (2002) Manual handling in health and social care: an A-Z of law and practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Supplementary Readings:

- National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2021). Postnatal Care. NICE guideline [NG194]. Retrieved November 5th 2023, from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng194

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE MID2012

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in each assessment component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Independent Study, Placement & Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Case Study (Take Home) [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 40%
Clinical Assessment [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 60%
Note: Assessment due will vary according to the study-unit availability.

 
LECTURER/S Georgette Spiteri

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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