In Progress
Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.Overview
In this unit, you will have the opportunity to gain theoretical knowledge in pharmacology relating to maternal, fetal and neonatal physiology for midwifery practice. This will include the use and effect of over the counter and prescribed medications, and illicit substances upon the mother, placenta, fetus and neonate. You will develop your midwifery knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics and the quality use of medicines to inform effective care across the childbearing continuum.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites: MDWF13003 Midwifery Practice 3, and MDWF13008 Foundations of Midwifery 3 and MDWF13007 Midwifery Practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Email from student.
A student expressed appreciation to the unit coordinator for providing prompt clarification regarding an error they had made on a quiz question.
The unit coordinator will continue to answer emails promptly to allay student anxiety about assessment tasks.
Feedback from Email from student.
The unit coordinator was thanked for proactively correcting a quiz grading error before the student needed to raise a query.
The unit coordinator will continue vigilant surveillance of the students' quiz results and make amendments to their grades as required.
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, inclusive of over the counter and prescribed medications and illicit substances, as related to maternal, placental/fetal and neonatal physiology for midwifery practice
- Demonstrate sound numeracy and mathematical calculation skills to correctly administer and critically evaluate medication orders for women and their infants
- Critically evaluate the physiological and psychological effects of medication administration on the maternal, fetal or neonatal wellbeing to determine the effectiveness of treatment
- Critically appraise the role of the midwife in the use of pharmacological therapies during the childbearing continuum.
Draft ANMAC Midwifery Education Standards.
Standard 3: Program of study.
NMBA Code of Conduct.
Principle 1: Legal compliance.
Principle 2: Woman centred practice.
Principle 3: Cultural practice and respectful relationships.
Principle 4: Professional behaviour.
Principle 6: Research in health.
Principle 7: Health and wellbeing.
NMBA Standards for Practice.
Standard 1: Promotes health and wellbeing through evidence based midwifery practice.
Standard 2: Engages in professional relationships and respectful partnerships.
Standard 3: Demonstrates the capability and accountability for midwifery practice.
Standard 4: Undertakes comprehensive assessments.
Standard 5: Develops a plan for midwifery practice.
Standard 6: Provides safety and quality in midwifery practice.
Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to improve midwifery practice.
ICM code of Ethics.
1. Midwifery relationships
2. Practice of midwifery.
3. Professional responsibilities of midwives.
4. Advancement of midwifery knowledge and practice.
NPS Competencies Required to Prescribe Medicines: All competency areas apply.
NSQHSS: All standards apply.
National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Case Study - 60% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||