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Course Outline

HLT201 Therapeutics in Midwifery

Course Coordinator:Loretta Anderson (landerson4@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Midwifery

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course will introduce you to a range of therapeutic approaches in midwifery. These approaches include pharmacological and non pharmacological interventions appropriate to normal pregnancy, birth and puerperium as well as in complex situations; complementary therapies used in midwifery practice. There will be an emphasis on critical analysis of evidence as it relates to a range of therapeutic interventions.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online asynchronous learning and teaching recording. 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial. 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • Pharmacological and non pharmacological therapeutic approaches during normal pregnancy, birth and the puerperium
  • Pharmacology in the neonate
  • Midwives decision-making in relation to therapeutic interventions
  • Regulatory standards relating to prescribing
  • Legal, regulatory and professional framework and therapeutic interventions and prescribing approaches in midwifery
  • Evidence- based practice and therapeutic approaches in midwifery

 

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
1 Critically analyse and apply evidence to the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutics interventions in midwifery practice Creative and critical thinker 
1, 1.2
2 Provide culturally appropriate information to facilitate women's decision-making about pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches Empowered 
1.1, 1.2, 1.6, 3.2, 4.3
3 Critically apply national and international legal, regulatory, professional and ethical framework to midwifery prescribing. Ethical 
2.3, 2.5, 3.2
4 Apply principles and practices of academic writing and referencing and research. Engaged 
1.2, 1.6

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
1 Standard 1: Promotes health and wellbeing through evidence-based midwifery practice
1.1 The midwife identifies what is important to women as the foundation for using evidence to promote informed decision-making, participation in care, and self-determination
1.2 The midwife accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings, for safe, quality midwifery practice
1.6 The midwife supports the development, implementation and evaluation of evidenced-based health initiatives and programs
2.3 The midwife practises ethically, with respect for dignity, privacy, confidentiality, equity and justice
2.5 The midwife practises cultural safety that is holistic, free of bias and exposes racism
3.2 The midwife practises within relevant legal parameters and professional standards, codes and guidelines
4.3 The midwife analyses information and data and communicates assessments and anticipated outcomes as the basis for midwifery practice

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

NUR231 and enrolled in Program SC393

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

In week 4 of the course you will undertake an early assessment that provides feedback on academic progress.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual 20% 
1000 Words
 Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Written Piece Individual 45% 
2000 words
 Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Artefact - Professional Individual 35% 
2 A4 pages
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Critique of a consumer resource.
Goal: 
To critique a consumer resource.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Written Piece
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Critically appraise the use of evidence regarding therapeutics interventions in midwifery
practice
 1 2
2 
Demonstrate an understanding of providing information to facilitate women’s
decision-making about therapeutic approaches
 1 2
3 
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the midwife that takes into account
women’s individual preferences and cultural needs
 2
4 
Apply professional, ethical and legal codes and standards to midwifery care
 3
5 
Use relevant literature and critically analyse literature
 1
6 
Demonstrate appropriate written expression (academic writing, terminology,
referencing, etc.)
 1 4
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Written Piece
Goal: 
To demonstrate an understanding of the literature in relation to a particular topic.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Written assignment
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Critically discuss the role of the midwife and scope of practice as a health educator within the legal, regulatory, and professional frameworks
 2 3
2 
Critical analysis and comparison of evidence addressing the therapeutic intervention including risks and benefits
 1
3 
Critically discuss the need for culturally appropriate information to facilitate women's decision-making and the therapeutic intervention
 2 3
4 
Demonstrate appropriate written expression (academic writing, terminology, referencing, etc
 1 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Consumer resource
Goal: 
To develop an evidence based consumer resource
Product: Artefact - Professional
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Written Piece
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Apply woman-centred and culturally appropriate language about the therapeutic intervention that promotes women's decision-making
 1 2
2 
Critical analysis and application of evidence pertaining to the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutics interventions in midwifery practice.
 1
3 
The resource is underpinned by the role of the midwife, scope of practice and
legislative, regulatory and professional requirements relating to the therapeutic intervention
 3
4 
Demonstrate appropriate written expression as appropriate for a consumer
resource (academic writing, terminology, referencing, etc.)
 1 4
Generic Skills: 
Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Sally Pairman, Sally K. Tracy, Hannah Dahlen, Lesley Dixon 2022 Midwifery: Preparation for Practice 5th edn Elsevier
Required Roslyn Donnellan - Fernandez,Maryam Bazargan,Clare Davison,Michelle Gray,Kirsten Small 2024 Pharmacology in Midwifery n/a Elsevier

Specific requirements

N/A

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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