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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Work as part of the interdisciplinary health care team caring for a mother and her newborn infant
   • Assist the registered midwife by performing delegated aspects of postnatal care for the mother and newborn infant
   • Use correct terminology associated with pregnancy, labour and antenatal care when providing care
   • Contribute to the mother’s education about lactation and assist in latching the newborn infant to the breast correctly and in line with current breastfeeding research
   • Assist the mother to adopt safe practices in caring for the newborn infant
   • Document and discuss observations and progress of the mother and newborn infant to assist in care planning in collaboration and consultation with the registered midwife
   • Record observations of the mother and newborn infant, and report any abnormal observations to the registered nurse or midwife
   • Provide holistic care for the mother and newborn infant to support maternal and infant health
3. Support mother and newborn infant towards identified goals
   • Identify and document goals in care plan, and evaluate progress of the mother and newborn infant towards the care goals
   • Review and discuss with the registered nurse or midwife care goals that have not been achieved by the mother or newborn infant and update care planning
   • Support the mother by demonstrating appropriate interactions with their newborn infant to assist in progress towards care goals
   • Provide education to the mother on relevant aspects of maternal and infant health, and give information about support services in consultation and collaboration with the registered nurse or midwife

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

undertaken nursing work in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia professional practice standards, codes and guidelines

provided holistic maternity care for 2 mothers and their newborn infants in the workplace, in collaboration and consultation with the registered nurse or midwife and interdisciplinary health care team including:

umbilical cord care

preparation of feeding formulas

dressing newborn infant and changing newborn infant nappies

safe practice for bathing, holding, settling and positing the newborn infant for sleeping

care of the mother’s nipples.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

role of the midwife in antenatal and postpartum care

anatomy and physiology and associated terminology related to pregnancy, birth, postnatal period, lactation and care of the newborn infant

breastfeeding support

primary health care approaches to care planning

community support services for maternal and infant care

common abnormalities of newborn infant

common obstetric emergencies

correct use of artificial formula:

preparation volumes to be consumed according to age

methods for sterilisation of equipment

process of grief associated with infant death and appropriate care of the mother and family

impact of cultural practices and beliefs in relation to birthing

appropriate interactions with newborn infant including:

individual differences in newborn infant’s need for rest and their sleep and rest patterns

signs of stress, distress or pain in newborn infant

practices that are safe and unsafe for use with newborn infants

diverse practices and routines used by various families and their underlying cultural or personal rationale

emotional, physical and language development of newborn infant

attachment theory

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and safe sleeping techniques

brain development in newborn infant

newborn screening

principles for recognising a deteriorating mother or baby and the importance of immediately raising issues of concern

World Health Organisation (WHO) code for breastfeeding and the development and establishment of breastfeeding and benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding

umbilical cord care.

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