Bachelor of Midwifery (Post-Registration) - University of South Australia

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Aim

This prescribed program of study is designed to enable Registered Nurses to achieve registration as a Midwife, and to enable hospital-trained Midwives to achieve a degree qualification.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for entry, applicants must be:

• a Registered Nurse holding a current Practising Certificate with a Nurses Board within Australia; or 
• a Registered Midwife with a current Practising Certificate with a Nurses/Midwifery Board within Australia who are seeking to upgrade to a degree qualification.

Content/structure

The program requires the completion of 54 units of study.  It is designed to provide Nursing graduates and hospital-trained midwives with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to care for women and their families in the reproductive years during antenatal, birthing, and post-natal period.  The focus of the program is the theory and practice of Midwifery.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for Registration as Midwives with the Nurses Board of South Australia.

Honours

Students obtaining a credit level average or higher may be accepted into an Honours program in accordance with the current policy, and then proceed to postgraduate research degrees.

Fee information

Fees for International students: $AU 16,750 per 1.0 EFTSL for students commencing in 2010.
Fees are calculated on a per Unit basis with 1.0 EFTSL = 36 Units.
Fees for International students are determined one year in advance and are subject to variation.

Program requirements

Rules

1. Police Checks: All students in the Division of Health Sciences who undertake field or clinical placements, or participate in University clinics as part of their program, must have had a police clearance prior to the commencement of any placement or clinic activity.
2. Credit for previous studies or exemption from work within courses may be granted in accordance with University policy.
3. Registered Nurses and Midwives seeking to upgrade to the Bachelor of Midwifery are expected to undertake three years part time study and are required to complete the following courses totalling 54 units:
   • NURS 1042  Normal Pregnancy and Childbirth 1 (4.5 units)
   • NURS 1043  Normal Pregnancy and Childbirth 2 (4.5 units)
   • NURS 2026  Complications of Pregnancy and Childbirth (9 units)
   • NURS 2028  Women and Midwives (9 units)
   • NURS 3039  Maternal-Infant Bonding and Nutrition (4.5 units)  
   • NURS 3036  Childbirth and Neonatal Care (9 units)
   • NURS 3037  Health Care Pharmacology and Diagnostics (4.5 units) and
   • NURS 3038  Midwifery Practicum and Professional Practice (9 units)
4. Students are required to satisfy the standard of dress and behaviour as prescribed by institutions in which field placements are undertaken. Failure to satisfy such requirements may prevent them satisfying the requirements for the completion of the program.
5. Students must have completed a recognised senior first aid course and provide evidence of this before being permitted to commence professional placement within the program.
6. To achieve the standards required by the Nurses Board of South Australia, and the competencies of the ACM, professional experience is required for undergraduate students over the three years of the programs. Students are required to participate in and document 40 births which will include the care and support of a woman during the ante partum, intra partum, post partum and post natal experience (regarded as 'Follow through' care).
7. All students who undertake the program, whether full-time, part-time, internal, or external, will be required to attend clinical placements on a full-time basis. Shiftwork will be required.

Notes

1. Due to the unpredictable nature of 'Follow throughs'students may be required to carry these out over more than one study period, hence receiving an "I" grade for the course. All interim notations will be converted to the appropriate final assessment grade within one academic year as per the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual.
2. Some of these 'Follow throughs' may occur outside of the normal teaching periods.
3. This program is available by internal and external delivery mode.