This course is designed and delivered jointly between NHS Lothian and the Scottish Multiprofessional Maternity Development Programme (SMMDP).
The aim of this course is for registered midwives to complete additional training to facilitate the Routine Examination of the Newborn. This examination is a screening tool and requires more in depth knowledge on examining the eyes, heart, hips and testes of newborns..
This skill has recently been added to the NMC midwifery standards and is now a component of the undergraduate course for student midwives. Midwives have a responsibility to support student midwives with their training in this skill.
Target Staff Group
Registered midwives working in all areas within NHS Lothian.
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate a complete simulated routine examination of the newborn, including initial assessment of perinatal history
- Practice, within simulated environment, the systematic examination and the additional components required, including cardiac auscultation, fundal examination with ophthalmoscope, physical examination of hips and, in males, palpation of scrotum.
- Demonstrate awareness of referral pathways and communication with parents if positive screens occur, or if any suspected deviations from normal.
Training consists of three key stages
Pre Course
Textbook provided by SMMDP
Pre-Course MCQ test
Annotated presentations
This typically takes 30 hours
In person Study days
Two 7.5 hour study days
Lectures with expert speakers
Skill stations
Post Course MCQ
OSCE style assessment of the full systematic examination
Post course
Minimum of 15 observed examinations in practice
3 sign off examination (final completed by faculty REN Midwives or senior neonatal staff)
Submission of paperwork to SMMDP for indexing
For more information contact loth.clinicalskillstraining@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
