Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery is to strengthen and deepen the learner's knowledge and expertise in midwifery as a speciality of the nursing profession. It is designed to enable the midwifery specialist to undertake advanced reflection and to develop the learner's skills based on current thinking, practice, and research methods in the field of midwifery. A high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence is needed to acquire the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts, undertake professional and highly skilled workers, and conduct and report research under supervision. This includes prevention of disease, injury, complications, screening, appropriate management, and prompt referral of prenatal, intrapartum, postnatal and newborn babies with specific and complex health problems in the midwifery settings.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Practice within the ethical-legal parameters of the nursing and midwifery profession and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.
• Apply knowledge of basic research methodology in the appraisal of articles in the field of midwifery and neonatal care.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of midwifery and neonatal nursing care of patients in a variety of clinical settings, to promote health.
• Render and coordinate comprehensive midwifery and neonatal healthcare in a variety of healthcare settings to promote health outcomes.
• Apply scientific knowledge and principles of the systematic review and guideline development process, to evaluate and review the standard of guidelines used in midwifery and neonatal care.
• Apply principles of evidence-based care to ensure quality midwifery and neonatal healthcare.
• Implement strategies to develop self and peers by promoting self-directedness through a process of precepting and mentoring.
• Manage midwifery and neonatal services by implementing effective medico-legal norms, practices, and standards within an inter-professional team.

Rationale

There is a need for midwifery specialists in the country as determined by the national Department of Health and South African Nursing Council SANC). The Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery will strengthen and deepen the learner's knowledge in the field of midwifery. It will enable the midwifery specialist to undertake advanced reflection and development through a systematic survey of current thinking, practice, and research methods in midwifery.

This qualification demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, as well as the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts to undertake professional or high skilled midwifery work and to conduct a research project under supervision. The qualification is recognised and regulated by the SANC and is competency-based to achieve clinical competency. This qualification benefits the individual, community, society and country through promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health services.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The faculty accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value, and the faculty accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to faculty qualifications to promote lifelong learning.

The purpose of the institution's RPL policy, which directs the Faculty's RPL procedure, is to recognise prior learning to provide for admission to qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules using the principles and processes that serve as a basis for Faculty-specific RPL practices.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Midwifery at NQF Level 7, granting access to postgraduate studies.

Or

• A relevant qualification in the related field at NQF Level 7, granting access to postgraduate studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 124 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 124 Credits

• Fundamental Nursing: Midwifery, 16 Credits.
• Normal and abnormal pregnancy, 10 Credits.
• Normal and abnormal labour, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to research, 4 Credits.
• Clinical practice in Midwifery 1, 40 Credits.
• Postnatal care, 3 Credits.
• The neonate, 3 Credits.
• Research project, 6 Credits.
• Clinical practice in Midwifery 2, 32 Credits.

1. Practice within the ethical-legal parameters of the nursing and midwifery profession and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.
2. Apply knowledge of basic research methodology in the appraisal of articles in the field of midwifery and neonatal care.
3. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of midwifery and neonatal nursing care of patients in a variety of clinical settings, to promote health.
4. Render and coordinate comprehensive midwifery and neonatal healthcare in a variety of healthcare settings to promote health outcomes.
5. Apply scientific knowledge and principles of the systematic review and guideline development process, to evaluate and review the standard of guidelines used in midwifery and neonatal care.
6. Apply principles of evidence-based care to ensure quality midwifery and neonatal healthcare.
7. Implement strategies to develop self and peers by promoting self-directedness through a process of precepting and mentoring.
8. Manage midwifery and neonatal services by implementing effective medico-legal norms, practices, and standards within an inter-professional team.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Use critical decision-making and moral reasoning models to guide clinical practice and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas within midwifery and neonatal nursing care.
• Apply the relevant latest legislation, policies, protocols, regulations, guidelines, directives, and applicable ethics regarding midwifery and neonatal nursing care in practice.
• Ensure that the professional/ ethical legal frameworks guide the midwife specialist practice.
• Practice and facilitate advocacy for the rights of women, partners, or husbands, children, and families in their best interests.
• Interpret and apply ethical codes, professional accountability, responsibility, confidentiality, and standards for the practice of midwifery and neonatal nursing consistently and correctly.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Demonstrate academic writing skills in research reports.
• Appraise research articles in the field of midwifery and neonatal healthcare through the application of basic knowledge of research methodology.
• Differentiate qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method research designs accurately.
• Integrate evidence-based practice of research findings for safe, effective, and efficient practice.
• Demonstrate research knowledge in a research project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Promote health outcomes through the demonstration of knowledge of midwifery and neonatal specialist care of patients in a variety of clinical settings.
• Interpret and use epidemiological data on mother-and-child health to plan a community awareness programme/campaign.
• Explain the interpretation of health assessment findings and management of conditions affecting the pregnant woman and neonates, using biomedical, pharmacology and psychosocial sciences.
• Compare and debate best available evidence, theories, or models on mother-and-child health.
• Identify and debate legislation that applies to mother-and-child health, and communicate recommendations to authorities.
• Debate and recommend the influence of the social, political, cultural, and economic developments within the country on the provision of midwifery and neonatal nursing care communicated to authorities with the ultimate goal of improving midwifery and neonatal practice.
• Interpret subjective and objective assessment findings, results from investigations and laboratory results to make a nursing diagnosis.
• Base comprehensive individual, people-centred, inter-professional midwifery and neonatal specialist treatment plans on assessment findings and standardised national and contextually appropriate guidelines.
• Explain and debate the rationale and safety measures of technology used in assessing and treating pregnant women and neonates.
• Explore and debate care pathways and the referral system.
• Use medico-legal standards (national core standards to audit files of pregnant women and neonates.
• Evaluate the accuracy of data on mother-and-child health care.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Promote health outcomes through rendering and coordinating midwifery and neonatal specialist nursing care across the different levels of healthcare provision.
• Raise community awareness through the implementation of epidemiologically informed programmes.
• Operationalise underlying theories that endorse the role of the midwife specialist.
• Create and sustain a healthy environment for pregnant women, mothers, and their infants of different ages across the health continuum, which is based on the best available evidence and resources.
• Demonstrate clinical reasoning by considering social determinants of health and all relevant clinical findings to make a diagnosis.
• Execute and coordinate comprehensive individualised family-centred care plans, which are based on assessment findings.
• Execute and coordinate comprehensive, individualised family-centred care plans for healthy and sick neonates which are based on assessment findings, competently within an inter-professional team.
• Use technology appropriately and safely while providing specialised care for the pregnant woman and neonate to facilitate diagnosis, monitoring and management thereof.
• Use principles of health dialogue to negotiate the care plan with the pregnant women and significant others.
• Use care pathways and efficient referral systems appropriately and effectively.
• Manage emergencies during pregnancy, intrapartum and postnatal periods according to the best available evidence and national protocols.
• Document midwife specialist care according to care-and legal standards.
• Audit records of pregnant women to evaluate the standard of care.
• Capture and utilise maternal and neonatal health data accurately to improve midwifery practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Evaluate and report current evidence-based guidelines used in midwifery and neonatal nursing practice at predetermined times to improve health care.
• Demonstrate academic and professional writing skills in reports and guidelines.
• Formulate research questions according to the PICO format and any other formats.
• Appraise evidence-based practice, theories or models on mother and child critically and adopt best practice guidelines to improve health care service delivery.
• Search databases by using Boolean and other information search strategies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Promote quality of patient care and safety in midwifery and neonatal nursing care by implementing evidence-based practice.
• Use systematic reviews to improve client experience and outcomes in midwifery and neonatal healthcare.
• Perform quality audits aimed at improving patient services at predetermined times.
• Critique, develop and implement clinical standards for midwifery and neonatal healthcare.
• Monitor patient outcomes in midwifery and neonatal healthcare, including quality patient care and safety continuously.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Apply precepting and mentoring processes to develop self and peers.
• Enhance activities towards Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
• Develop thinking/reasoning processes of self and others through the facilitation of learning.
• Apply learning theories in own development and the development of others.
• Create a positive learning environment by supporting peers and novices.
• Establish and use academic networks to sustain personal development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Manage midwifery and neonatal health services according to medico-legal norms, practices, and standards within an inter-professional team.
• Demonstrate appropriate leadership styles within the midwifery and neonatal inter-professional team.
• Create and document shared decision-making opportunities regarding midwifery and neonatal healthcare services.
• Access and use benchmarks and best practices to develop indicators for quality and cost-effectiveness in midwifery and neonatal nursing.
• Mobilise and utilise resources to optimise midwifery and neonatal nursing care.
• Analyse and optimise care pathways and referral system.
• Coordinate the activities of the inter-professional team within midwifery and neonatal nursing care well.
• Use morbidity and mortality data on midwifery and neonatal care for decision-making.