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HE Unit Template
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Pharmacology and Diagnostics for Midwives
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MIDBM3211 - Pharmacology and Diagnostics for Midwives
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20260200
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2.1
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2026-06-16
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2026-06-16
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Midwifery
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Undergraduate
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15
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.125
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060303
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Midwifery
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/midbm3211">060303 - Midwifery</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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Bachelor Degree
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<p>This midwifery unit will provide the fundamental knowledge required of midwives, detailed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Standard for Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines for Midwives within the Australian health system. The focus of this unit will be on the Australian regulatory, legal and competency frameworks which govern midwifery prescribing and diagnostic practice. Further, students will focus on assessment and clinical history taking required to inform a medication and care plan, clinical investigations, and interpretation. This unit of study will include essential elements related to pharmacology to inform rationale for midwifery prescribing choices as they apply to the continuum of pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the neonatal period. Woman centered communication skills, interdisciplinary consultation and referral pathways will be advanced, with a focus on the principles of informed consent and legal requirements for written prescription</p>
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<p><em>The ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (2014); ANMAC Programs Leading to Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines for Midwives (2015); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for the Midwife (2018); NMBA Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014); and the NMBA Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines for Midwives (2017), have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Australian regulatory, legal and competency frameworks which govern midwifery prescribing and diagnostic practice</li>
<li class="ql-indent-1">National Health Act (1953)</li>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) 2010</li>
<li class="ql-indent-1">National Prescribing Service (NPS) Prescribing Competencies Framework (2021)</li>
<li class="ql-indent-1">NMBA Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines for Midwives (2017)</li>
<li>State and territory drug regulations: Formularies and gazette governance</li>
<li>Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS)</li>
<li>Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)</li>
<li>Medication management and record keeping</li>
<li>Pharmacology for midwives</li>
<li>Principles of gram negative/gram positive bacteria</li>
<li>Antimicrobial resistance</li>
<li>Allergy and adverse drug reaction</li>
<li>Woman-centred communication, womens needs and informed consent</li>
<li>Assessment of wellbeing and care planning for the antenatal, birth, postpartum and neonatal period</li>
<li>Common puerperal infection</li>
<li>Investigations, screening and diagnostic interpretation</li>
<li>Critical thinking regarding management options and therapeutic goals</li>
<li>Critical thinking regarding choice of medication when prescribing and response to treatment</li>
<li>Legal prescribing requirements for written prescription</li>
<li>Contemporaneous documentation</li>
<li>Collaborative practice, consultation and referral pathways</li>
<li>Midwifery Private Practice Insurance arrangements</li>
</ul>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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MIDBM3211 - Pharmacology and Diagnostics for Midwives
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>This midwifery unit will provide the fundamental knowledge required of midwives, detailed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Standard for Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines for Midwives within the Australian health system. The focus of this unit will be on the Australian regulatory, legal and competency frameworks which govern midwifery prescribing and diagnostic practice. Further, students will focus on assessment and clinical history taking required to inform a medication and care plan, clinical investigations, and interpretation. This unit of study will include essential elements related to pharmacology to inform rationale for midwifery prescribing choices as they apply to the continuum of pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the neonatal period. Woman centered communication skills, interdisciplinary consultation and referral pathways will be advanced, with a focus on the principles of informed consent and legal requirements for written prescription</p>
Unit content
<p><em>The ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (2014); ANMAC Programs Leading to Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines for Midwives (2015); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for the Midwife (2018); NMBA Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014); and the NMBA Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines for Midwives (2017), have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit</em></p> <ul> <li>Australian regulatory, legal and competency frameworks which govern midwifery prescribing and diagnostic practice</li> <li class="ql-indent-1">National Health Act (1953)</li> <li class="ql-indent-1">Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) 2010</li> <li class="ql-indent-1">National Prescribing Service (NPS) Prescribing Competencies Framework (2021)</li> <li class="ql-indent-1">NMBA Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines for Midwives (2017)</li> <li>State and territory drug regulations: Formularies and gazette governance</li> <li>Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS)</li> <li>Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)</li> <li>Medication management and record keeping</li> <li>Pharmacology for midwives</li> <li>Principles of gram negative/gram positive bacteria</li> <li>Antimicrobial resistance</li> <li>Allergy and adverse drug reaction</li> <li>Woman-centred communication, womens needs and informed consent</li> <li>Assessment of wellbeing and care planning for the antenatal, birth, postpartum and neonatal period</li> <li>Common puerperal infection</li> <li>Investigations, screening and diagnostic interpretation</li> <li>Critical thinking regarding management options and therapeutic goals</li> <li>Critical thinking regarding choice of medication when prescribing and response to treatment</li> <li>Legal prescribing requirements for written prescription</li> <li>Contemporaneous documentation</li> <li>Collaborative practice, consultation and referral pathways</li> <li>Midwifery Private Practice Insurance arrangements</li> </ul>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Midwifery
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/midbm3211">060303 - Midwifery</a>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Requisites
Prerequisite
<p> must have completed MIDBM3106</p>
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
None
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Prioritise appropriately relevant clinical history, and physical/emotional concerns associated with maternal or neonatal wellbeing</p>
K2
<p>Synthesise theoretical physiological understanding of pregnancy, birth and postnatal complexity when determining a likely source of pueperal infection</p>
K3
<p>Evaluate theoretical understandings of pharmacology, potential benefits or harms, and appropriate prescription(s) associated with a clinical presentation in the context of midwifery scope of practice</p>
K4
<p>Explain relevant midwifery regulatory, legal and competency frameworks which govern midwifery prescribing and diagnostic practice</p>
K5
<p>Interpret legal requirements for the written prescription, management and record keeping of scheduled medicines</p>
S1
<p>Demonstrate safe midwifery prescribing practice based on theoretical knowledge and reasoning</p>
S2
<p>Demonstrate sound clinical assessment skills associated with the midwifery context and scope of practice</p>
S3
<p>Demonstrate professional communication skills specific to informed consent and collaborative decision making with women regarding care options</p>
S4
<p>Demonstrate an ability to prescribe medication or diagnostic testing compliant with relevant legislation, regulatory frameworks, standards of practice associated with midwifery scope of practice</p>
A1
<p>Critically assess maternal and neonatal wellbeing, and apply current research findings to inform a plan of care</p>
A2
<p>Apply legal and ethical principles of practice to demonstrate competent midwifery assessment and prescribing skills according to midwifery scope of practice</p>
A3
<p>Demonstrate midwifery competency based on the NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice and the NMBA Standard for Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines for Midwives</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Online Test: Theoretical concepts of pharmacology, maternal and neonatal physiology, diagnostic and prescribing practice</p>
<p>Online assessment: Test</p>
<p>20-30%</p>
K2, K3, S1, A3
2
<p>Clinical case study: Theoretical concepts of clinical assessment, regulatory governance, safe midwifery prescribing practice</p>
<p>Written assessment:</p><p>Clinical case study</p>
<p>40-50%</p>
K1, K4, K5, S2, S4, A1, A2
3
<p>Plan of care: Theoretical concepts of clinical assessment, pharmacology, professional communication and collaborative practice, regulatory governance</p>
<p>Written assessment: Care plan</p>
<p>20-30%</p>
K1, K4, K5, S1, S3, A1, A3
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplimentary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
Level
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
The ability to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
The ability to work fluently across a range of tools and applications to achieve a range of skills.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
The ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions.
<p>Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Midwifery
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/midbm3211">060303 - Midwifery</a>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Disclaimer
<em>Information in the Federation Handbook is correct at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to alter any course, unit, procedure or fee.</em>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: MIDBM3211 - U2.1