fetal surveillance for out of hospital midwives
What is the importance of fetal surveillance in midwifery care?
This 10-week course is designed to equip midwives working in out-of-hospital settings with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective fetal surveillance. The course will cover essential topics ranging from understanding fetal development to utilizing various surveillance methods and interpreting findings. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, decision-making, and communication skills essential for providing safe and competent care to pregnant individuals and their babies. This course is part of our Maternal Health Specialist Program. |
What Does This Course Teach?
This 10-week class will cover the basics of fetal surveillance.
Course Title: Fetal Surveillance in Out-of-Hospital Midwifery Practice
Week 1: Introduction to Fetal Surveillance
Week 1: Introduction to Fetal Surveillance
- Overview of fetal development
- Importance of fetal surveillance in out-of-hospital settings
- Legal and ethical considerations
- Maternal risk factors affecting fetal well-being
- Methods for assessing fetal growth and well-being
- Understanding ultrasound findings and their implications
- Stages of labor and fetal response
- Techniques for intermittent auscultation
- Interpretation of fetal heart rate patterns
- Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM): indications and limitations
- Integrating EFM with intermittent auscultation
- Decision-making during labor based on fetal assessment
- Fetal scalp stimulation and blood sampling
- Use of fetal pulse oximetry
- Assessing amniotic fluid volume and its significance
- Hypertensive disorders
- Gestational diabetes
- Other maternal conditions affecting fetal well-being
- Recognizing and managing fetal distress
- Decision-making in urgent situations
- Communication with emergency services and transfer protocols
- Effective communication with clients and their families
- Interprofessional collaboration with healthcare providers
- Documentation and reporting of fetal surveillance findings
- Cultural considerations in fetal surveillance
- Addressing ethical dilemmas in out-of-hospital midwifery practice
- Advocacy for patient-centered care
- Review of case studies illustrating various fetal surveillance scenarios
- Role-playing exercises for decision-making and communication
- Integration of course learnings and future directions in fetal surveillance
- Written examination covering theoretical knowledge
- Practical assessment of fetal surveillance techniques (optional local skills lab)
- Reflective essay on personal growth and learning throughout the course
- Recommended textbooks and journal articles
- Online resources for current guidelines and research
- Simulation models for hands-on practice
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of fetal development and assessment techniques.
- Apply critical thinking skills to interpret fetal surveillance data and make informed clinical decisions.
- Effectively communicate findings with clients, families, and other healthcare providers.
- Navigate ethical and cultural considerations in providing fetal surveillance in diverse settings.
- Collaborate effectively in interprofessional teams to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.