School of Nursing and Midwifery

This 15 credit level 6 module will improve the midwife's skills and knowledge in order for them to provide more confident and competent care to women experiencing acute ill health and requiring an escalation of treatment in relation to childbearing.
The midwife will gain skills of clinical judgement and practice and the ability to communicate their management plans effectively to the multidisciplinary team.

This module is available as an elective within BSc (Clinical Practice).

This module is also available as a free standing elective.

To enable the midwife to assess and distinguish between the majority of women with uncomplicated pregnancies and the small but growing minority who have the potential to become acute/ critically ill during pregnancy, labour or the post natal period. Then to enhance the knowledge, skills, confidence and attitudes of midwives caring for these women

Hold a first level Professional Registration as a Midwife with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

Using a blended learning approach including taught, self directed and practical activities the following content will be addressed:
Rationale for requiring higher levels of care during acute, high dependency and critical care episodes
Defining critical care and the team approach in the provision of critical care
Overview of medical and haematological disorders in pregnancy, delivery and post natal period to include sepsis, shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation
Review of the acute physiological presentation during pregnancy
Management of the critically ill to include: assessment (MEOWS), monitoring, evaluation, resuscitation, transfer and the psychological needs of the woman and family
Review of critical care skills - including A to E assessment, management of arterial and central venous catheters, monitoring and simple techniques involved in airway management