MW2S005 - The Role of the Midwife in Examination of the Newborn 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: MW2S005
Module Title: The Role of the Midwife in Examination of the Newborn
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Nursing and Midwifery
Faculty Sub Group: Nursing
Module Leader: Marianne Paterson
Module Team: Sarah Aubrey, Joanna Thompson, Eluned Ejiofor, Sian Preddy
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
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

To enable the student to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to competently undertake a full health and physical assessment of the neonate, considering the context when applying this knowledge and skills.

Content Summary

Developing awareness and understanding of the social and environmental factors affecting the childbearing individual, fetus, neonate, and family health issues.
Understanding of embryology and fetal development.
Anatomy and physiology of embryological, fetal, and neonatal systems. Specifically, the cardio-vascular, renal, nervous, skeletal, respiratory, digestive, reproductive and immune system.
Understand and appreciate antenatal influences on fetal development. Socioeconomical factors, lifestyle, family medical history, geographical and environmental factors.
Normal neonatal development and deviations from the normal. Gestational assessment. Genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology.
Labour and delivery management influences such as mode of birth, medications in labour, birth injuries and the child bearer’s response physically and psychologically to birth. Adaptation to extra uterine life.
Diagnosis of deviations from normal. Congenital and familial factors influencing development. Psychological impact of childbirth on the neonate. Family centred care. Development of parenting skills. Social attachment. Child protection.
Practical, psychomotor, and cognitive skills of the examiner required to complete a systematic examination of the neonate in the simulated environment. For example, auscultation of heart sounds, hips, eyes and testes.
Assessment and care planning skills. Effective communication skills. Multidisciplinary collaboration.
Professional issues. Accountability, law, ethical issues. Record keeping. Referral skills. Policies and care pathways to be referred to when deviations are detected such as Newborn and infant physical examination NIPE, local policies and guidelines.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 24
Tutorial 6
Demonstration 8
Practical classes and workshops 20
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 36
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 6
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically review the evidence base of assessment of the neonate and the influencing factors on neonatal health.
LO2 Demonstrate the skills and apply the evidence base to the process of a newborn infant physical examination.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment OSCE 1 Demonstrate the examination of one element of the newborn infant physical examination from a selection of 3 topics to include questioning on the process and evidence base. 15 N/A 40 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 A written assignment focusing on an aspect of interest specific to neonatal inspection and physical examination referring to a case encountered in practice demonstrating knowledge and understanding of context. 0 2000 60 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
OSCE 1
Case study 1

Reading List

Baston, H. and Durward, H. (2016) Examination of the Newborn a Practical Guide. 3rd Edn. London: Routledge.

Campbell, D. and Dolby, L. (2018) Physical Examination of the Newborn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Dudenhausen, J.W., Travis, S.E., Obladen, M. and Pschyrembel, W. (2014) Practical Obstetrics. Boston: De Gruyter

Jones, T. (2020) The Student Guide to the Newborn Infant Physical Examination. London: Routledge.

Lissauer, T., Fanaroff, A.A., Miall, L. and Fanaroff, J. M. (2020) Neonatology at a Glance. 4th Edn. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Lomax, A. and Appleton, J.(2021) Examination of the Newborn : An Evidence-based Guide. 3rd Edn. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.

Pandya, P. P., Wapner, R., Oepkes, D. and Sebire, N.J.(2019) Fetal Medicine : Basic Science and Clinical Practice. 3rd Edn. London: Elsevier.