NMHS20690 The Newborn Infant

Academic Year 2024/2025

The aim of this module is to develop student understanding of the role of the midwife in the provision of evidence-based, family-integrated care of the healthy, term gestation neonate.

The student will begin to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate wellbeing via the physical, psychological, and social assessments of the neonate. The student will develop the understanding and skills necessary to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the required individualised midwifery care for each infant. The student will be taught to how to assess for and recognise neonatal well-being. The student will learn about how to recognise deviations from the norm and refer to senior midwifery and medical personnel when appropriate.

During four hours of lectures and discussions, the student build upon their knowledge of the research process, and the research methodologies underpinning national and international policies, protocols, procedures and guidelines regarding neonatal care. By examining key aspects of midwifery care of the neonate, the student will learn the fundamentals of the research process i.e. what is research; the hierarchies of evidence; formulating a research question, correctly describe the research activities to answer a specific research question.

A 1-hour, multiple-choice question end-of-trimester examination worth 40% of the final grade will assess student knowledge of neonatal anatomy and physiology. A number of questions on the research processes explored during the module will also be assessed.

Lab-based assessments and workshops on 'Initial Steps of Newborn Resuscitation' worth 20% of the final module grade (pass/fail).

An end of trimester video assignment worth 40% of the final grade will assess student knowledge and performance of neonatal physical examination and holistic midwifery assessment .

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

● Perform a holistic evaluation of the neonate’s physical, psychological, and social well-being.
● Apply knowledge of neonatal physiology to communicate and provide evidence-based advice, support, and education regarding infant feeding and routine infant care to caregivers.
● Apply knowledge and understanding of transition to extrauterine life to the midwifery care required by the newly born infant. Skills related to this knowledge will be demonstrated in a 'Initial Steps of Resuscitation' workshop.
● Apply knowledge & understanding of normal neonatal physiology to the prevention, identification, and management of the common/minor disorders of the neonate.
● Perform & document appropriately the necessary observations, tests, procedures, and care activities required by the neonate in the maintenance & assurance of their well-being.
● Identify robust sources of midwifery knowledge regarding neonatal health and well-being.
● Describe the research process and various methodologies underpinning published investigations of neonatal health and well-being.

Indicative Module Content:

Legislation and Scope of Midwifery Practice Regarding Neonatal Care and Assessment;
Fetal Growth and Development;
Physiology of the Term Neonate;
Transition to Extrauterine Life;
The Initial Steps of Resuscitation - THEORY;
Initial Care and Assessment at Birth incl. Apgar scoring and VKDB prophylaxis;
Maintaining a Thermal Neutral Environment;
Midwife’s Detailed Examination of the Newborn Within an Hour of Birth;
Newborn Feeding Support & Assessment;
Midwife’s Daily Examination & Assessment of Neonatal Wellbeing;
Minor and Common Disorders of the Neonate;
National Newborn Screening Procedures (Bloodspot, Hearing, Eyes, Heart, Hips, Testes, Neuro/Reflexes);
Educating Caregivers re: newborn care and wellbeing (incl. the 'Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule', and Infant Mental Health);

Research Theory (Year 2 of 4, 4-hours of learning activities): Recap of Year 1; Meaning Studies, Efficacy Studies, Association Studies - link with maternity and neonatal research.

Related clinical skills (delivered face-to-face in the simulation lab):

The initial steps of newborn resuscitation - Practice + OSCE;
Midwife's Detailed Examination of the Neonate Shortly After Birth;
Midwife's Daily Examination of the Neonate (incl. vital signs);
Anthropometric measurement (Body length and OFC);
Examination of the Oral Cavity;
Preparation & administration of IM injections;
POCTs: the Newborn Bloodspot Screening, Blood Glucose Monitoring;

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

26
Practical

6
Specified Learning Activities

10
Autonomous Student Learning

81
Online Learning

2
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
online lectures; online skills/simulation workshops; reflection activities; clinical skills labs- simulation & role-play; enquiry & problem-based learning within Brightspace activities; case-study review learning; group discussions; breakout groups 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): MCQ End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% Yes

40

 Yes
Practical Skills Assessment: Video OSCE Week 9, Week 10 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% Yes

40

 Yes
Practical Skills Assessment: Lab-based assessment: The Initial Steps of Newborn Resuscitation Week 5, Week 7 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

20

 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the class presentation will be provided within 20 days. Feedback on the 10% practical examination in Week 12 will be provided continuously during the workshop. Video assignment submission- individual feedback released via Brightspace prior to PERC. Feedback on the MCQ student answered incorrectly will be available upon request.

American Academy of Pediatrics (2020) Neonatal Resuscitation Programme 8th edition.
England C. (2014) Recognising the healthy baby at term through examination & newborn screening- Chapter 28. In Myles Textbook for Midwives 16th edn. (Marshall & Raynor eds.), Pgs. 592-609
England C. (2014) Resuscitation of the healthy baby at birth- Chapter 29. In Myles Textbook for Midwives 16th edn. Pgs. 611-615.
HSE (2018) Term Infant with Neonatal Jaundice on Postnatal Ward. In HSE Newborn Examination Handbook, page 55. Available at: https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/child-health-and-wellbeing/newborn%20exam.pdf
HSE/Safe Food (2018) Preparing Baby Formula. Available at: https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/child-health/preparing-baby-formula/preparing-baby-formula.html
HSE (2018) My Child: 0-2 years. Available at: https://www2.hse.ie/file-library/child-health/my-child-0-to-2-years-book.pdf
HSE (2015) Breastfeeding- A Good Start in Life. An information leaflet on breastfeeding your baby. Available at: https://www.healthpromotion.ie/hp-files/docs/HPM00367.pdf
HSE (2018) A Practical Guide to Newborn Bloodspot Screening in Ireland- 7th edition. Available at: https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/child/newbornscreening/newbornbloodspotscreening/information-for-professionals/a-practical-guide-to-newborn-bloodspot-screening-in-ireland.pdf
HSE (2019) National Infant Feeding Policy for Maternity & Neonatal Services. Available at: https://www.hse.ie/file-library/infant-feeding-policy-for-maternity-neonatal-services-2019.pdf
Johnson & Taylor (2016) Assessment of the baby: assessment at birth- Chapter 37. In: Skills for Midwifery Practice 4th edn. Pgs. 292-299.
Lomax A. (2021) Examination of the Newborn, An Evidence-Based Guide, 3rd ed. Wiley Blackwell
McEwan T. (2017) Adaptation to extrauterine life 1: haematological, cardiovascular, respiratory and genitourinary considerations- Chapter 48. In Physiology in Childbearing with Anatomy and Related Biosciences 4th edn. (Rankin J. ed), Ballière Tindall, Edinburgh, P.501-520.
National Institute of Clinical Excellence (2021) Postnatal Care Guideline [NG194]. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng194
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2021) Code of Professional Conduct & Ethics for Registered Nurses & Registered Midwives. Available at: https://www.nmbi.ie/NMBI/media/NMBI/Code-of-Professional-Conduct-and-Ethics.pdf?ext=.pdf
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2021) Practice Standards for Midwives.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2015) Scope of Nursing & Midwifery Practice Framework.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2013) UK-WHO 0-4 yr Growth Charts http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/child-health/research-projects/uk-who-growth-charts/uk-who-growth-chart-resources-0-4-years/uk-who-0
Name Role
Ms Sally Horton Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Deirdre O'Donnell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Lisa Rogers Lecturer / Co-Lecturer