HC3142 - Newborn Examination and Behavioural Assessment

The module aims to extend the knowledge, understanding, and skills to undertake the newborn infant physical examination and behavioural assessment.

This will mirror the philosophy of the Healthy Child Wales Programme (Welsh Government 2016) and Strategies for Maternity Services in Wales.

The module will enable practitioners to increase their support to women and their families during the childbirth period. Midwives are the lead professional for the delivery of care to mothers and babies during normal pregnancy and birth, and together with specialist neonatal nurses they provide primary care for healthy babies following birth. The ongoing examination of the neonate, at birth, within 72 hours and later is an integral part of child health surveillance.

As a result of strategic changes within the health care sector, midwives and specialist neonatal nurses are developing their practice to include the routine examination of normal babies in line with prudent healthcare principles. All candidates for this module must be nominated by their clinical manager. In order to fulfil the clinical learning outcomes, all candidates must be working in care areas for nursing newborn infants.

The module has both theory and clinical learning outcomes which complement each other. The learning outcomes are mapped against the standards for Newborn Infant Physical Examination Programme (UK Gov. 2020).

Learning and teaching

For this module, a variety of teaching and learning methods will be used:

demonstration and simulation will develop the skills associated with the assessment of the key systems
lectures and discussion will provide the underpinning knowledge for undertaking clinical examination within the current health care climate.

Learning in practice with the use of a portfolio, will take place in your own area of clinical practice, where you will be supported by the module teaching team and a sign off assessor, an experienced midwife, advanced practice neonatal nurse or neonatologist who is able to undertake examination and behavioural assessment of the newborn.