Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
Course Title: Newborn Observation & Charting
Credits: 0.5
Course Description: This course covers the importance of charting observed and objective
information on the neonate, including consults and transfers. Student will learn how to apply
the principles of informed consent and client confidentiality, and learn about the pertinent
waivers that may need to be obtained. This course uses current research in midwifery and
obstetrics to broaden the student’s understanding of the following NARM skills and MANA core
competencies learned under clinical supervision:
NARM Skills:
I. Midwifery Counseling, Education and Communication
(3)I C. Provides education and counseling based on maternal health/reproductive/family
history and on-going risk assessment
(6)-I F. Educates the mother concerning the natural physical and emotional processes of
pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum
(7)-I G. Applies the principles of informed consent
(8)-I H. Provides individualized care
I J. Provides education, counseling and/or referral, where appropriate for:
(19)-I J 10. Newborn care including normal/abnormal newborn activity, responses, vital signs,
appearance, behavior, etc
(49)-II E. Is trained in adult/infant CPR/neonatal resuscitation
VII. Well-Baby Care
(149)-VII A. Provides well-baby care 2-6 weeks
(150)-VII B. Assesses the general health and appearance of baby
MANA Core Competencies:
I. Guiding Principles of Practice.
The midwife provides care according to the following principles:
1 J. Midwives synthesize clinical observations, theoretical knowledge, intuitive assessment and
spiritual awareness as components of a competent decision making process.
1 K. Midwives value continuity of care throughout the childbearing cycle and strive to maintain
continuous care within realistic limits.
II. General Knowledge and Skills
The midwife provides care incorporating certain concepts, skills and knowledge from a variety
of health and social sciences including, but not limited to:
2 E. Significance of and methods for documentation of care through the childbearing cycle.
2 F. Informed decision-making.
2 L. Knowledge of common medical terms.
2 M. The ability to develop, implement and evaluate an individualized plan for midwifery care.
2 N. Woman-centered care, including the relationship between the mother, infant and their
larger support community.
2 O. Knowledge and application of various health care modalities as they apply to the
childbearing cycle
III. Care During Pregnancy
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
The midwife provides health care, support, and information to women throughout pregnancy.
She determines the need for consultation or referral as appropriate. The midwife uses a
foundation of knowledge and/or skill which includes the following:
3 B. Education and counseling for the childbearing cycle
IV. Care During Labor, Birth and Immediately Thereafter
The midwife provides health care, support, and information to women throughout labor, birth
and the hours immediately thereafter. She determines the need for consultation or referral as
appropriate. The midwife uses a foundation of knowledge and/or skill which includes the
following:
4 B. Parameters and methods for evaluating maternal and fetal well-being during labor, birth
and immediately
Learning Activities:
A. Student reads appropriate sections from the Learning Materials/Resources.
B. Student answers the questions listed in the Learning Objectives by researching the
Learning Materials/Resources for the course and correctly cites the sources and page
numbers for each of their answers.
C. Student presents answers the questions listed in the Learning Objectives for review by
preceptor.
D. Student participates in preceptor elaboration/discussion of Learning Objectives.
E. In the case that the required texts are more than 5 years old, the student must research,
prepare & present a summary of current best midwifery care/practices appropriate to a
topic covered in this course from a current journal article/study, less than 5 years old.
F. Recommended Role-playing and/or Clinical Interactions
Note: The clinical requirement of NARM /Clinical Skills is completed at any time
throughout the ASM apprenticeship during actual clinical practice and is NOT a
requirement to complete this academic course.
Activities specific to NARM skills learned in this section:
1. Practice charting newborn records while observing a birth.
2. Create forms for newborn records including a form for the immediate newborn care,
a form for the newborn physical exam, and a form for newborn followup exams
through 6 weeks of age.
3. Create a form for pertinent information on the birth that should be sent to the
pediatrician.
4. Create a form that would be used in the case emergent transport of a newborn with
the mother’s pertinent history included.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
5. Practice filling out a newborn birth certificate and paternity affidavit.
6. Practice filling out a newborn metabolic screen form with the pertinent history and
information required.
Learning Materials / Resources:
Please use textbooks less than 5 years old or most recent edition.
1. Tharpe, Nell and Farley, Cindy. Clinical Practice guidelines for midwifery and women’s
health. Jones and Barlett Publisher. 2009
2. Frye, Anne. Holistic Midwifery: A Comprehensive Textbook for Midwives in Homebirth
Practice, Vol. 2: Care of the Mother and Baby from the Onset of Labor Through the First
Hours After Birth. Labrys Press. 2004.
3. Thureen, et al. Assessment and Care of the Well Newborn. 2nd ed. Elsevier Saunders.
2005.
4. Fraser, DM, et al. Myles Textbook for Midwives. 15th ed. Churchill Livingstone Press.
2009.
5. Varney, Helen. Varney’s Midwifery. Fourth Edition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 2004
6. MEAC Abbreviated NARM Skills Form.
7. MANA Core Competencies for Midwives
8. Midwives Model of Care®.
9. Students must find 1 article/study less than 5 years old. Recommended internet links
as needed for latest developments in midwifery care:
The Cochrane Collaboration
EBSCO
National Library of Medicine
PubMed
Medline
SCIRUS
Medscape
World Health Organization
Evaluation Tools / Methods:
Minimum passing grade for each course is a cumulative 80% / B-. Students and preceptors
are encouraged to work together until the student masters the information.
Final grade for the course is based on preceptor evaluation of the following:
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
01/2012
A. Learning Objectives count for 80-90% of the final grade.
The preceptor evaluates each answer based on three elements:
1. Answers should reflect a thorough review of current literature regarding best
current practices in midwifery care.
2. Each answer should be formed in the student’s own words or paraphrased
from the text. The answer should be minimal, not a re-write of the entire text,
but enough to show appropriate comprehension of the learning objective.
3. Student identification of sources and page numbers for each of the Learning
Objectives. (Preceptor should do a random check to determine that sources
cited are correctly identified.)
B. Summary of current journal article / study counts for 10% of the final grade in the case that
other scholarly resources used are more than five years old.
C. Exam counts for 10% of the final grade.
Course credit:
One Academic credit equals approximately 15 hours of formal time plus 30 hours of additional
study or homework. Formal time is defined as the amount of time taken to answer the Learning
Objectives to the level of 80% and to complete any learning activities to the preceptor's
satisfaction, including any time spent face to face with the preceptor. Informal time includes
any time spent actively reading relevant sources and textbook/s, researching Learning
Objectives, and studying for examinations.
Learning Objectives:
A. The student must research, prepare & present a summary of an aspect of current best
midwifery care/practices appropriate a topic from this course from a current journal
article/study.
B. Student answers the questions below and cites the sources and page numbers.
1. Discuss the purpose of charting the neonate's vitals immediately postpartum.
2. Describe what the timing of recording vitals should be immediately after birth.
3. Which neonatal vital signs should be recorded postpartum?
4. Discuss the purpose of charting the newborn’s input and output immediately
postpartum.
5. Discuss the purpose of charting interaction with mother and family immediately
postpartum.
6. Discuss the purpose of charting any procedures performed on the newborn.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
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7. Discuss in detail how to chart a neonatal resuscitation.
8. Discuss the importance having an accurate record of any neonatal resuscitation.
9. Discuss ways to keep track of time accurately while managing an emergent newborn
situation.
10. How should medications given to the newborn be charted?
11. How should the newborn exam be charted?
12. How should any deviations from normal found upon examination of the newborn be
charted?
13. Discuss how to chart gestational age assessment.
14. Discuss the timing of charting for the newborn in the first 2-4 hours of life and why.
15. Discuss how to chart postpartum teaching about newborn care.
16. Discuss how the care plan is charted for newborns and what should be included in this.
17. Discuss how discharge of the infant after birth is charted.
18. Describe how consults on the baby's behalf are charted.
19. Discuss how a newborn transfer is charted.
20. Name the consents and waivers that may need to be obtained for the newborn and
charted.
21. Discuss when it is important to review the maternal health history in regards to
observations made about the infant.
22. Discuss how to chart infant feeding. What details should be included in the record?
23. Discuss what aspects of newborn status should be charted during the visits made
during the first week?
24. Discuss which aspects of newborn status should be charted during the visits made
between 2 and 6 weeks.
25. Discuss what aspects of the newborn’s chart are most often used for the purpose of
filing a birth certificate.
26. Discuss what aspects of the newborn’s chart are most often used for the purpose of
filing a paternity affidavit.
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Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2012
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27. Discuss confidentiality as it relates to the birth and newborn records.
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