Master Resource Outline

 

Course Title: NRSG 643 Midwifery Care During the Postpartum and Care of the Neonate

Credits: 2 (didactic)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: NRSG 641, NRSG 644
Corequisites: NRSG 639, NRSG 642
Degree: DNP
AACN Core Competencies for Advanced-level Nursing Education: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
MRJCON DNP Program Learning Outcome: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
MRJCON NM Option Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

 

Course Description:

This graduate level nursing course focuses on students developing the critical thinking skills to be able to translate knowledge and research relevant to the discipline of midwifery into a safe, comprehensive, evidence-based plan of care during for people in the postpartum and neonates immediately after birth and for the first 28 days of life. The course focuses on the normal physiological changes during the puerperium including lactation, and the normal physiological adaptations of the neonate to extrauterine life. Students learn skills needed to manage involution following pregnancy ending in spontaneous or induced abortion, preterm birth, and term birth. Communication and counseling skills are examined and integrated when learning to provide supportive emotional care following pregnancy and teaching about lactation, infant care, sexuality, and healthy family/household relationships. Focus is placed on developing skills needed to facilitate physiologic transition of the neonate to extrauterine life and when
assessing neonatal gestational age and deviations from normal. Students learn to anticipate and intervene when complications and emergencies arise.

Catalog Description:

This graduate nursing course focuses on providing safe, evidence-based midwifery care during the postpartum and to neonates. The emphasis is on normal physiological changes. Students learn how to intervene when complications and emergencies arise.

 

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon completing this course the student will be able to:

1. Integrate professional standards, midwifery theoretical knowledge and research and knowledge from foundational courses when developing a plan of care for persons in the puerperium and neonates immediately after birth and in the first 28 days of life.
2. Describe the physiological process of physical involution following pregnancy ending in spontaneous or induced abortion, preterm birth or term birth and the role of the nurse midwife in managing that process.
3. Describe evidence-based approaches when counseling people in the postpartum about emotional health, self-care, lactation, infant care, contraception, sexuality, and healthy family/household relationships.
4. Demonstrate skill and abilities with the use of information technology and midwifery theoretical knowledge when planning care to improve outcomes.
5. Identify evidence-based methods that facilitate fetal transition to extrauterine life including establishment of respiration, cardiac and hematologic stabilization, thermoregulation, and establishment of feeding and normoglycemia.
6. Explain the process of neonatal evaluation including assessing fetal history and risk factors, gestational age assessment, head to toe assessment, and assessment of deviations from normal.
7. Synthesize evidence-based clinical approaches needed to anticipate, identify, and manage deviations from the normal puerperium, complications, and emergencies in the postnatal person and in the neonate after birth and for the first 28 days of life.

Exemplars of Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Write a discharge plan for a 2 day postpartum person and 2 day old neonate representing a vulnerable population (student can determine the population) considering social determinants of health.[CO 1-7].
2. Participate in an in-class case learning activity with classmates on the interprofessional management of a postpartum hemorrhage. Assume assigned role such as patient, family member, midwife, registered nurse, laboratory technician, or physician demonstrating knowledge of pathophysiology, practice guidelines, use of medications and interventions, and interprofessional roles. [CLO2, CLO5, CLO6]

 

American College of Nursing Midwives Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice

Includes the fundamental knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of new midwives certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

V. Components of Midwifery Care - While each person’s life is a continuum, midwifery care can be divided into primary, preconception, gynecologic/reproductive/sexual health, antepartum intrapartum and postpregnancy care:

F-1. Manages the physical involution following pregnancy ending in spontaneous or induced abortion, preterm birth, or term birth
F-2. Utilizes management strategies and therapeutics to facilitate a healthy puerperium, including managing discomforts
F-3. Identification and management of postpartum mental health
F-4. Explains postpartum self-care
F-5. Discusses psychological, emotional, and social coping and healing following pregnancy
F-6. Counsels regarding the readjustment of significant relationships and roles
F-7. Facilitates the initiation, establishment, and continuation of lactation where indicated, and/or counseling about safe formula feeding when indicated
F-8. Advises regarding resumption of sexual activity, contraception, and pregnancy spacing
F-9. Identifies deviations from normal and appropriate interventions including management of complications and emergencies
G-1. Understands the effect of prenatal and fetal history and risk factors on the neonate
G-2. Prepares and plans for birth based on ongoing assessment
G-3. Utilizes methods to facilitate physiologic transition to extrauterine life
G-4. Evaluates the neonate including

a. Initial physical and behavioral assessment of term and preterm neonates
b. Gestational age assessment
c. Ongoing assessment and management of term, well neonate during first 28 days
d. Identification of deviations from normal and consultation and/or referral to appropriate health services as indicated

G-5. Develops a plan in conjunction with the neonate’s primary caregivers for care during the first 28 days of life

American College of Nurse Midwives Competencies for Practice Doctorate in Midwifery

1. Translate expert clinical knowledge and research relevant to midwifery into best practice models
3. Interpret and apply research related to the national and international distribution and determinants of health and disease of women and newborns
5. Use effective communication and leadership skills to enhance team function and promote positive change in the health care of women and newborns
6. Analyze theories relevant to the discipline of midwifery, and apply these theories to inform and evaluate the health care of women and newborns

American College of Nurse Midwives Core Values:

  • Excellence
  • Evidence-based care
  • Inclusiveness
  • Women-centered care
  • Primary care
  • Partnership
  • Advocacy

 

Recommended Content:

  • Midwifery management process after pregnancy and when caring for the neonate in the first 28 days of life
  • Management of physical involution
  • Management strategies to support and promote a healthy puerperium and fetal transition to extrauterine life
  • Lactation and/or formula feeding, counseling and education
  • Role of the nurse midwife in support of fetal transition to extrauterine life
  • Neonatal assessment including gestational age assessment
  • Neonatal plan of care for the first 28 days of life

 

Approved by GAAC: 9/9/2022
Approved by Faculty: 9/12/22