The program aims to prepare students to acquire advanced midwifery competencies (Knowledges-Skills-Behaviors) for autonomous, effective, safe and qualitative practice of midwifery as required by the relevant legislation, the international midwifery standards and the Ethical and Professional Codes of Midwives.
The program is structured so as to ensure that the graduate will be able to practice according to the legally recognized activities of midwives in Europe and the global standards for midwifery practice of the International Confederation of Midwives.
The graduate:
- Practices autonomously and as an effective member of the health care team, in any environment (Hospital, community, at home, independent practice), to provide safe and high quality midwifery care for women of reproductive age, especially before conception, during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, including the care of the newborn.
- Diagnoses and monitors a normal pregnancy, writes recipes and performs necessary tests to monitor the development of normal pregnancies.
- Records or advices on the necessary tests for the early diagnosis of high risk pregnancies.
- Provides antenatal and parenthood classes program using complete information and preparation for the pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum period, the newborn and the strengthening of the family.
- Provides research evidence-based information for promotion of reproductive and sexual health of women, from puberty to menopause, including infertility and family planning.
- Evaluates, examines, monitors and cares for the woman and the fetus during childbirth using the appropriate clinical and technical means.
- Manage and perform autonomously normal childbirths, including episiotomy and suturing where appropriate, and in emergency breech childbirths.
- Recognize warning signs of abnormal or potentially abnormal situation of the mother or the fetus / newborn, call for medical assistance and assist in medical intervention where appropriate. Take the necessary emergency measures in the doctors’ absence and especially the manual removal of the placenta that can possibly follow after the manual examination of the uterus.
- Examines and takes care of the newborn by taking the necessary steps in an emergency and handles immediate resuscitation where needed.
- Examines, takes care and monitors the progress of the mother and newborn during the postpartum and provides the mother with the necessary advice and support for the newborns care in order to strengthen and ensure the best possible development and welfare of the child.
- Applies with safety, professionalism and quality the treatment specified by the doctor.
- Records all the necessary documents for each case and maintains the necessary records in conventional or electronic form.
- Acknowledges the necessity and usefulness of lifelong learning for personal and professional development.
- Implements the relevant legislation, midwifery ethics and professional behavior.
- Applies principles and teaching skills, effective communication, counseling, research, leadership and management.
Clinical learning outcomes in appropriate clinical settings and under the supervision and guidance of scientific midwifery personnel, students of midwifery acquire the following competencies:
- Advising of pregnant women, involving at least 100 pre-natal examinations.
- Supervision and care of at least 40 pregnant women.
- Conduct by the student of at least 40 deliveries; where this number cannot be reached owing to the lack of available women in labour, it may be reduced to a minimum of 30, provided that the student assists with 20 further deliveries.
- Active participation with breech deliveries. Where this is not possible because of lack of breech deliveries, practice may be in a simulated situation.
- Performance of episiotomy and initiation into suturing. Initiation shall include theoretical instruction and clinical practice. The practice of suturing includes suturing of the wound following an episiotomy and a simple perineal laceration. This may be in a simulated situation if absolutely necessary.
- Supervision and care of 40 women at risk in pregnancy, or labour or post-natal period.
- Supervision and care (including examination) of at least 100 post-natal women and healthy new-born infants.
- Observation and care of the new-born requiring special care, including those born pre-term, post-term, underweight or ill.
- Care of women with pathological conditions in the fields of gynecology and obstetrics.
- Initiation into care in the field of medicine and surgery. Initiation shall include theoretical instruction and clinical practice.
