BMidwif Midwifery

This unit will enable you to further develop essential knowledge and skills required for professional practice and your future role as a skilled midwifery practitioner. Throughout the unit you will build on your existing knowledge of evidence-based medicines administration and optimisation. A key aspect of the unit will be to prepare you for your role in performing the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) and you will develop an in-depth understanding of the full systematic physical examination of the newborn infant. Within the clinical learning environment you will be further supported to develop these NIPE skills by participating in formative examinations under the direct supervision of a qualified practitioner. Throughout this unit you will learn through a variety of approaches, including taught sessions both face-face and online. This includes lectures, small group work, practical skills-based workshops, e-learning, podcasts, and practice based learning in the clinical environment.

The unit aims to:

• Enable learners to apply their acquired theory of professional midwifery practice in clinical situations under the close supervision of qualified health professionals, appropriate to knowledge and skills.
• Support learners in securing the skills for safe administration of medicines, and developing skills for Newborn and Infant Physical Examination.

The intended learning outcomes (ILOs) and aims are all constructively aligned to ensure the teaching and assessment methods support the learners' achievement of these to the highest standard. The assessment ensures that all aims and ILOs can be demonstrated as met during the assessment task and in order to facilitate learners' understanding of the ILOs the following teaching methods will be used:

• Practice-based learning
• Lectures synchronous (live)
• Lectures asynchronous (podcasts)
• Seminars
• Small group work
• Practical skills-based workshops
• Clinical simulation
• Online resources
• Directed study

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the need for evidence-based practice to enhance safety and optimise outcomes.
• Apply secure knowledge of the midwife’s professional accountability and responsibility associated with the safe administration of medicines.
• Demonstrate coherent and detailed knowledge of the key concepts of the physical examination of the newborn.
• Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of key health and safety issues related to clinical practice, including moving and handling, infection control and basic life support.

• Ability to accurately calculate drug dosages for the preparation and administration of medications, including injectable medicines, body weight and body surface area dosage calculations.
• Recognise the importance of needs assessment as an integral element of the newborn examination and recognise when appropriate referrals may be required.
• Recognise the importance of effective and responsible use a range of digital and other technologies to access, record, and appropriately share data.

• Contribute to planning, implementing and evaluating plans of care in partnership with individuals and families to anticipate, prevent, recognise and respond to complications.
• Demonstrate effective collaboration and team working with interdisciplinary and multiagency teams or groups.
• Demonstrate effective and accurate record keeping, appropriately shares findings and escalates concerns.

• Demonstrate the principles of professional accountability with respect to the delivery of midwifery care; promoting, informed consent, advocacy and confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate and share information and conduct person-centred conversations that promote health with individuals taking account of different needs.
• Demonstrate through contribution to continuity of carer the ability to initiate and build professional relationships, and work in partnership with women/people across the childbearing continuum including those with additional needs.
• Recognise and respond to vulnerability in self and others.

 *Oral assessment/presentation (25%) is Viva Assignment - Viva assessment related to a 
hypothetical NIPE scenario to include all four areas (heart, hips, eyes and testes).               

Formative Assessment

10 Newborn and Infant Physical Examinations performed under direct supervision of a qualified NIPE practitioner

• Barber, P. and Robertson, D. (2015). Essentials of Pharmacology for Nurses. 3rd edition. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
• Baston, H., Dunward, H.  (2025). Examination of Newborn:  A Practical Guide. 4th edition London: Routledge 
• Campbell, D., Dolby, L. (2025). Physical Examination of the Newborn at a Glance. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell
• Dimond, B. (2013). The legal aspects of midwifery. 4th edition. London: Quay Books.
• England, C. and Morgan, R. (2012). Communication skills for midwives: Challenges in everyday practice.
• Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.
• Johnson, R. and Taylor, W. (2016). Skills for midwifery practice. 4th edition. London: Elsevier.
• Jones, T. (2020). A Student Guide to the Newborn Infant Physical Examination. London: Routledge.
• Jordan, S. (2010). Pharmacology for midwives: The evidence for safe practice. 2nd edition. Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillan.
• Lapham, R. (2021). Drug Calculations for Nurses. 5th edition. London: Routledge.
• NHS England (2025) Newborn Infant Physical Examination Screening Programme Handbook. 
• Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (2025) Guidance: Eyes, Heart, Hips and Testes (Physical Examination)