MW1S005 - Developing Professionalism in Midwifery 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: MW1S005
Module Title: Developing Professionalism in Midwifery
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Nursing and Midwifery
Faculty Sub Group: Nursing
Module Leader: Lynda Milton
Module Team: Sarah Aubrey, Marianne Paterson, Eluned Ejiofor, Sian Preddy
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100288 - midwifery
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

The module aims to introduce the student to professionalism within midwifery practice, exploring the role of the midwife and the development of effective communication and interpersonal skills within midwifery practice.

Content Summary

The module will explore two distinct areas related to professionalism in midwifery practice. The first area will address: The history of the role of the midwife to raise awareness of the politics of midwifery within contemporary maternity care. Students will be introduced to and encouraged to keep up to date with developments in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and informed of the need to abide by the NMC (2018) Code in both their professional and personal lives. Students are required to undertake asynchronous activities relating to the NMC guidance on the professional duty of candour, raising concerns, accountability, use of social media, enabling professionalism and practising as a midwife in the UK.

The importance of student status and gaining consent to deliver midwifery care will be addressed in this module.
Other topics will include the professional duty of candour, confidentiality, accountability, advocacy, and the concept of dignity, respect and autonomy. Real life examples will be integrated into the theoretical teaching of these topics.

Further professional areas which will be explored include helping childbearing individuals who have specific individual needs, (learning disabilities, neurodiversity, language adjustments, intellectual, physical or mental health needs including perinatal mental health) and making reasonable adjustments accordingly and challenging discriminatory behaviour. Students will be familiarised with the Human Rights Act, Equality Act, spirituality and safeguarding, and introduced to the concepts of conflict resolution, managing, and negotiating challenging behaviours, observing and reporting poor practice, and working in a safe environment.
The second area will explore the development of effective interpersonal and communication skills and the importance of developing into non-discriminatory, compassionate, kind and caring midwives.
Evidence-based communication skills, non-verbal communication techniques including touch, eye contact, and respecting personal space, using of respectful, caring, and kind open and closed questioning. The use of clear language, active listening and appropriate resources, making adjustments where appropriate, using translation and interpretation services, recognising and accommodating sensory impairments, using communication aids, communicating effectively with interdisciplinary and multiagency teams and colleagues.
An introduction to compassionate leadership and Malcomess Care Aims Framework will be explored.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 4
Seminar 20
Tutorial 12
Project supervision 6
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 36
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 6
Formative Assessment - Independent 6
Groupwork 10
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate knowledge of professional aspects of midwifery practice
LO2 Apply effective communication and interpersonal skills during caring encounters with childbearing individuals.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Application of key themes of professionalism and use of effective interpersonal skills to explain your role in managing a given scenario. 0 3000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Baston, H. (2021) Midwifery: The Basics. London: Routledge

Broderick, A. and Williamson, E. (2020) Listening to Women After Childbirth. Abingdon: Routledge

Chenery-Morris, S. and McLean, M. (2013) Normal Midwifery Practice. Los Angeles: Sage

Clarke, E. (2015) Law and Ethics for Midwifery. London: Routledge

Corcoran, N. (2010) Working on Health Communication. London: Sage

Gault, I., Shapcott, J., Luthi, Armin. And Reid, G. (2016) Communication in Nursing and Healthcare: A Guide for Compassionate Practice. London: Sage

Jefford, E. and Jomeen, J. (2020) Empowering Decision-Making in Midwifery: A Global Perspective. Milton: Routledge

Mander, R. and Murphy-Lawless, J. (2013) The Politics of Maternity. Abingdon: Routledge

Matiti, M. and Baillie, L. (2011) ‘Dignity in Healthcare: A Practical Approach for Nurses and Midwives’ Nursing Management, 18(9), p8

Moss, B. (2020) Communication Skills in Health and Social Care. 5th Edn. London:Sage

Noss, K. (2014) ‘The Student’s Guide to Becoming a Midwife’ British Journal of Midwifery,22(4), 292

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) The Code. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Enabling Professionalism. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/guidance/ptofesionalism/

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Raising Concerns: Guidance for Nurses, Midwives and Nursing Associates. https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/guidance/raising-concerns-guidance-for-nurses-and-midwives/

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Standards for Proficiency for Midwives. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/practising-as-a-midwife-in-the-uk.pdf

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Guidance on the duty of Professional Candour. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/guidance/the-professional-duty-of-candour/

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Social Media Guidance. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/guidance/social-media-guidance/

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2020) Standards for Pre-Registration Midwifery Programmes. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards-for-midwives/standards-for-pre-registration-midwifery-programmes/

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2021) Practicing as a Midwife. Available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/practising-as-a-midwife-in-the-uk.pdf

Schillier, R. (2016) Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matte., London: Pinter and Martin

Webb, L. (2020) Communication Skills in Nursing Practice. California: Sage