The international Confederation of Midwives (ICM) defines the midwife as a person who has successfully completed a nationally recognized midwifery education program, is qualified for registration, and competent to practice in midwifery. As a midwifery student, I will explore the philosophies of this profession whilst working with my first continuity of care experience woman and her family. In this essay, I will examine the roles of the midwife, the scope of the practice for midwives and midwifery students, and search the value of the midwifery partnership and the importance of the woman centered care. I will also clarify the legal, professional and ethical responsibilities of the midwife in accordance with national standards and code. Analyzing …show more content…
In Australia, the scope of practice has been further refined by AHPRA through competencies, codes, and standards. Although there are some common areas of practice in nursing and midwifery, midwives and midwifery students must be aware of the more extensive definition specialized for the midwifery practice. Within the scope, midwives provide care in the continuum model whilst establishing partnership with woman and family, provide health counseling, conduct birth, implement care for newborn, and practice within professional boundaries of the partnership regulated by AHPRA. Also, midwives must be able to identify the condition, in which the involvement of collaboration with other health professionals is required, and be familiar with the national guidelines for consultation and referral. As a midwifery student, it is my responsibility to always work within my current scope of practice, which is what I have been taught, skilled, and authorized to perform. As a midwifery student, the scope of practice is limited to that of a student regardless my nursing registration with AHPRA. Before the commencement of my clinical placement, I must read, understand and remember the code, competency standards, and professional boundaries for midwives. And ensure my practice always adhere to those guidelines during my clinical
In Chapter 17 of The Midwife’s Apprentice, Karen Cushman reveals that Alyce doesn’t want to be an Inn girl, or to work for Magister Reese’s widowed sister, Alyce wanted to be the Midwife’s Apprentice. In early June as flowers began to bloom, Alyce sat in the green grassy meadow and considered her options. One of her options was to go back to Salisbury with the rich merchant and his wife to take care of their newborn infant son. Another option was to go with Magister Reese to the lodgings in Oxford in which he shared with his widowed sister, and to be employed to help. Her last option was to stay at the Inn and be an Inn girl for Jennet, and get a penny every so often. Alyce smiled as she chewed grass in the meadow. Alyce was once a girl who
The International Confederation of Midwives (2011) recognises midwives as being responsible and accountable professionals who work in partnership with women and their partners to give them support, care, and advise during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. This assignment will look at the significance of professionalism and how it affects the role of the midwifery student in university and in midwifery practice. It will begin by giving a definition of professionalism, followed by a discussion on two characteristics of professionalism; accountability and knowledge. Finally how these impact on the role of the midwifery student with regard to conduct and behaviour within the university, will be discussed in relation to both their personal
This report will evaluate the roles and responsibilities of a midwife. “Midwifery encompasses care of women during pregnancy, labour, and the postpartum period, as well as care of the new-born.”(WHO, 2015) This is a recent definition and clearly points out that a midwife has many roles and responsibilities. The NMC Codes of Conduct will be evaluated with specific emphasis on recent changes within healthcare. These changes took place as a result of the tragedies at Mid-Staffordshire Hospital in 2005-2009 and are the outcome of the Francis report in order to improve care given to patients.
In this Assignment, we will be looking at and discussing how the Nursing Midwifery Council’s Code (NMC) can guide the provision of person centred nursing care. What is the NMC’s Code? NMC Code is a list of professional requirements that which the nurses and midwives needs to adhere in order to practice in United Kingdom. This Code also helps the nurses and midwives to maintain their professional standards throughout their career. The Code is divided into four important sections. The sections are Prioritise people, Practise effectively and Preserve safety and Promote professionalism and trust (NMC 2015).
A constructive critique of the research into women’s experiences of becoming a mother after prolonged labour.
Another key recommendation for transforming nursing practice from the IOM is improving access to primary care. Within the increasing need for primary care, nurse midwives have taken on roles in primary care with respect to newborn care and women’s health across the lifespan. The primary care certified nurse midwives provide
The Australian College of Midwives believes that it is the right of every pregnant woman to have access to continuity of care by a known midwife for her pregnancy, labour and early postnatal period. Midwives are the most appropriate primary care providers for healthy mothers and newborn babies and are able to refer to specialist medical care if the need arises (Hicks, Spurgeon & Barwell, 2003). Midwives must work within the competency standards enforced by The ANMC Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council (2006) in order to obtain and practice as a registered midwife in Australia. Competency 4 states Midwives should “promote safe and effective practice” (ANMC, 2006), this is achievable by providing Midwifery continuity of care to women and
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) published the expected standards for pre-registration midwifery education. They stated that Student Midwives are required to assist in the care and support of several women throughout their antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum period. This is achieved via the caseload holding scheme (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2009). Midwifery led continuity of care models are described as care given during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period from a known and trusted midwife in order to empower a woman to have a healthy pregnancy and birth (Sandall, Soltani and Gates, 2016). In September 2005 research was published supporting midwifery-led continuity of care, which they found was linked to a number of benefits for both mothers and babies, in contrast with obstetrically led and shared care (The Royal College of Midwives, 2014).
This essay will be relating to an episode of care that was provided to a woman, her partner and their baby on day five during the postnatal period. It will examine the role of the midwife in relation to breastfeeding and how this was not achieved in the case study which is shown in the appendix. Throughout the essay it will look at the following outcomes: the role and responsibility of the midwife within current maternity care provision, the importance of sensitive midwifery, key legal and ethical dimensions of the midwife's role and key sociological and psychological agendas impacting on current maternity care.
Within Victoria there are multiple models of maternity care available to women. An initial discussion with the woman’s treating GP during the early stages of her pregnancy is critical in her decision-making about which model of care she will choose and this key discussion is essential in allowing a woman to make the first of many informed decisions throughout her pregnancy. According to a survey conducted by Stevens et al. (2010) only 43% of women felt ‘they were not supported to maintain up-to-date knowledge on models of care, and most reported that model of care referrals were influenced by whether women had private health insurance coverage.’ Many elements of these models of care differ: from location of care, degree of caregiver continuity, rates of intervention and maternal and infant health, outcomes access to medical procedure, and philosophical orientation such as natural or medical (Stevens, Thompson, Kruske, Watson, & Miller, 2014). According to the World Health Organization (1985) and Commonwealth of Australia (2008) there is a recognition that ‘85% of pregnant women are capable of giving birth safely with minimal intervention with the remaining 15% at potential risk of medical complications’ (McIntyre & Francis, 2012).
This model identifies midwifery partnership as a relationship of ‘sharing’ between the women and the midwife, involving trust, shared control and responsibility and shared meaning through mutual understanding. It is the sharing relationship which constitutes midwifery and it is one which spans the life experience of pregnancy and childbirth. (Guilliland, K., & Pairman, S, 2010, p. 7).
I believe as a Midwifery Student at Australian Catholic University (ACU) that childbirth is a natural life process. Within my philosophy, my aim is to provide a women-centred care based on evidence- based practice. Also the importance of supporting women with cultural variation, social circumstance and understanding other specific needs throughout the woman’s pregnancy. The women-centred care is an essential quality to a midwife as it ensure that the women is educated in healthy lifestyle choices within pregnancy, childbirth and during parenthood. This relationship of “women-centred care” is the key to midwifery practices as Australian College of Midwives (2009) refers to the philosophy of maternity care that promotes a holistic approach by recognising each women’s social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural needs. In retrospect, it is important to reflect on your past experiences during your midwifery practice but also your life beyond midwifery.
This paper will focus on the differences and conflicts between doctors and midwifes. Doctors have been been the lead care providers for women for hundreds of years. Just short of one-hundred years ago Mary Breckinridge became the first midwife in the united states. Today there doctors and midwives have an ongoing feud. Many doctors feel as if midwives are uneducated and are not trained enough to provide health care to women, and do not agree with their more natural approach to child birth. However there conflict is slowly but surly being resolved, as many health care facilities are allowing midwives to have more authority in the work place. Secondly, this paper will go over the differences between doctors and midwives, many people are uneducated
Woman-centred care requires a holistic approach and should encompass all a woman’s expectations from an emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural perspective (Fahy K 2012 & Australian College of Midwives (ACM) 2016). I believe that woman-centred care is of utmost importance in all aspects of midwifery care, and I am sure that many others in the profession would share my opinion. Simple principals of woman-centred care include but are not limited to: collaborative care between health professionals, continuity of care provider, care focused on the woman’s needs and expectations before those of the institution or health professionals and ensures the woman’s autonomy and ability to make informed decisions is supported and respected (Fahy K 2012 & ACM 2016). Unfortunately in some situations, woman-centred care is not always successfully implemented. A common example is when there is an indication for Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM), particularly in the intrapartum period
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council 2005, National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, Victoria, viewed 4 November 2011,