POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF MIDWIFERY - 2020/1
Module code: NUR1034
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in a departure from previous academic years and previously published information, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the academic year 2020/21.
These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach during 2020/21. Detailed information on all changes is available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/coronavirus/course-changes. This webpage sets out information relating to general University changes, and will also direct you to consider additional specific information relating to your chosen programme.
Prior to registering online, you must read this general information and all relevant additional programme specific information. By completing online registration, you acknowledge that you have read such content, and accept all such changes.
Module provider
School of Health Sciences
Module Leader
PILLAY Leontia (Health Sci.)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 4
JACs code: B720
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Module Availability
Year long
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
Directed reading
Module content
The role of the midwife, including:
- What is midwifery?
- History, politics & philosophy of midwifery
- Feminism
- Royal College of Midwives
- Autonomous practice
- Record keeping
- Facilitation of choice
- Becoming a reflective practitioner
The planning and delivery of midwifery care during a normal, low risk pregnancy including:
- assessment and planning of antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care of
mother and baby
- screening and diagnostic testing
- effects of alcohol and smoking on pregnancy and fetus
- keeping babies safe
Infant feeding, including:
- breastfeeding attitudes and trends
- Baby Friendly Initiative
- what is and is not helpful in the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding
- choices available to women 
Pharmacology, including:
- pharmacological and non-pharmacological analgesia for labour
- the effects of drugs on mother, fetus and neonate
- the administration of medicines
Assessment pattern
Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Coursework | ESSAY | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
None.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of specific module learning outcomes, namely:
· Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the midwife in providing complete, holistic, individualised care to women and their families in the childbearing continuum
· Show an awareness of the potential influences on women’s decision making, and how they can empower women to make choices regarding their own care
· Understand the importance of working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, with particular reference to effective communication and problem solving
Whilst students are expected to elude to the other learning outcomes, particularly the need for midwives to work within a regulatory framework, this is not expected to be examined in depth
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
· A 2000 word essay – 100%
· This essay shall address the marked learning outcomes of the module, clearly linking the midwives role and responsibilities to the above scenario. This will include reference to the information that the midwife might give Alison to empower her to make informed choices in regard to care planning, as well as demonstrating a critical understanding of the information gathered at the booking appointment.
Do this by giving a general, overarching, critical discussion of the booking appointment (which may include some or all of the following), and then examining two of the following areas in detail:
- Maternal screening
- Fetal screening
- Dietary advice
- Lifestyle advice – smoking, alcohol, exercise
- Mental health
·
Whilst learning outcome 3 is not expected to be addressed in detail, it is expected that the student will demonstrate an understanding of the Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) Code in relation to this scenario
· It is expected that in this assignment the student will go beyond listing what takes place at a booking appointment, and will undertake a critical examination of why procedures discussed are undertaken by the midwife.
· The student should demonstrate breadth, depth and understanding of the subject by supporting any arguments/discussion with a range of appropriate literature, which must go beyond using just textbooks. It is expected that students will use current journal articles to support their arguments/discussions.
· Critical engagement with source material, using skills learnt from other modules, will increase marks (see undergraduate grade descriptors). It is expected that source material will be from primary sources; do not use of patient information leaflets as source material, although it is acceptable to use examples of information to be given to Alison.
· The essay is expected to be clearly structured, with a logical flow. It is expected that it will be written in the third person, and that the student will demonstrate effective interpretation and paraphrasing of sources. The references will follow the Health and Social Care Guidelines
Formative assessment - individual discussion of essay plan and a section of the essay in a timetabled tutorial
Feedback - At formative tutorial meeting and throughout module
Module aims
- Students will begin to explore the role of the midwife, and how this role relates to the women in their care. They will develop an understanding of the philosophy behind providing women-centred midwifery care in a safe and professional manner, with the emphasis being on normality within the childbearing continuum. They will recognise the importance of being able to work within a multicultural context, respecting the values and beliefs of others, be they clients or colleagues
- This module will compliment the other modules within the semester, and enable students to gain the knowledge required for aspects of caring for, and providing advice to, low risk mothers and their babies.
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
---|---|---|
001 | Demonstrate awareness of the role of the midwife in providing complete, holistic, individualised care to women and their families in the childbearing continuum | |
002 | Identify the potential influences on women's decision making, and how they can empower women to make choices regarding their own care | |
003 | Have a broad understanding of the history of midwifery, in conjunction with an understanding of the statutory regulation of the profession and the ability to evaluate professional behaviour against the NMC Code | |
004 | Identify the principles of infant feeding, including how to help women successfully initiate and continue to breastfeed against the backdrop of cultural and societal attitudes and influences, in line with the Baby Friendly Initiative | |
005 | Demonstrate awareness of the importance of working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, with particular reference to effective communication and problem solving |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Overall student workload
Independent Study Hours: 123
Lecture Hours: 22
Seminar Hours: 2
Practical/Performance Hours: 3
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The module will be delivered utilising different approaches depending on the content being taught. Approaches to be used will include lectures, workshops, seminars, self-directed learning and workbooks
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: NUR1034
Programmes this module appears in
Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
---|---|---|---|
Midwifery (Registered Midwife) BSc (Hons)(NURSES PRE-REG SEP) | Year-long | Core | Each unit of assessment must be passed at 40% to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.