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This course will enable the student to gain an advanced understanding of pharmacology, diagnostics and screening as they apply to midwifery practice in Australia. The student will gain a greater understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics specific to neonates and antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal and breastfeeding women. The student will examine routine and advanced screening and diagnostic investigations utilised in maternity care, and critically analyse their application to midwifery practice and their implications for childbearing women.

This course addresses content specific to professional, safety, legislative and regulatory issues related to pharmacology, diagnostics and screening as applied to Australian midwifery practice. The course builds on the student's current knowledge of pharmacology and builds an understanding of the common drugs, and specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations for childbearing women and neonates. This course also addresses routine screening and diagnostic investigations, their timing and application throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum and neonatal care Opportunities for the student to critically evaluate the evidence, guidelines and current practice related to pharmacology, diagnostics and screening in maternity care will be provided.

This course contains a mandatory Residential School.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the professional, legislative, safety and regulatory frameworks that govern Australian midwifery practice in relation to pharmacology, diagnostics and screening;
2. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to facilitate midwifery practice;
3. Analyse the pharmacology of drugs most commonly administered in midwifery practice;
4. Define and differentiate between screening and diagnostic investigations in maternity and neonatal care;
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the routine screening and diagnostic investigations, their timing and application throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum and neonatal care;
6. Describe, interpret and critically evaluate common screening and diagnostic investigations used in maternity and neonatal care;
7. Demonstrate midwifery skills required to safely and effectively administer drugs and participate in screening and diagnostic activities specific to midwifery care and interpret and evaluate women and neonate’s responses to these actions.