About This Course
module code: NHS-4396
This is a part-time, level 7 short course delivered on our ³Ô¹ÏȺÖÚ and Wrexham campus, with some content accessed online (blended learning method)
This short course can be studied by itself or it can be studied as a module on the MSc Midwifery Studies.
Who is this course for?
This course has been designed specifically for NMC registered nurses, midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPH).
Why study this course?
This module will enable qualified practitioners to gain the skills and expertise, to competently carry out the the Physical Examination of the Newborn currently offered to all Newborn babies in the UK, within 72 hours after birth and again at 6-8 weeks of age, as per the National Screening Programme.
The module will examine the strategic changes within health care regarding the provision of routine examination of newborn babies.
The module will enable practitioners to perform a comprehensive physical examination and behavioural assessment of newborn babies, working within a multidisciplinary team to make appropriate referrals to specific clinicians.
How long does this course take to complete?
This short course consists of 6 full teaching days (either in-person or on-line) and one additional practical skills/ simulation day.
The dates for the 2024/25 academic year are:
- 2 October 2024
- 9 October 2024
- 16 October 2024
- 24 October 2024
- 6 November 2024
- 13 November 2024
- 4 December 2024 (Skills Day)
Learners are also required to complete 10 examinations and clinical competencies under the direct supervision of a nominated supervisor from their local hospital trust, who is qualified in the Newborn Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) e.g. Practising Midwife, Neonatal Registrar, Advanced Neonatal Practitioner (ANNP).
The supervisor will guide and support the learner through the clinical aspects of the module.
Assessments on this short course include:  
-
Essay (3,500 words)
-
10 systematic examinations of the new-born in clinical practice
Tutor
Lauren Irving
Lauren has been a qualified Midwife since 2011 and worked clinically for 10 years, before coming to ³Ô¹ÏȺÖÚ. She specialised in community midwifery, continuity of care, homebirths, parent education, breastfeeding and Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE).
Lauren is a member of the Midwifery lecturing team and is Year 2 lead, on the Midwifery Undergraduate programme. She is also the lead for Breastfeeding, and assisted ³Ô¹ÏȺÖÚ to achieve its Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Gold accreditation in 2022 - the only University in Wales with Gold accreditation. Lauren teaches the NIPE module for both undergraduate and post graduate levels.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
We will cover the following topics areas as part of the course:
- Normal fetal development/anatomy and physiology of the 7 systems
- Transitional events in the neonatal period Normal morphology of the neonate
- Normal development of the infant
- Clinical examination: recognition of the abnormal
- Identification and management of congenital abnormalities
- Communication
- Referral systems and local guidelines
- Holistic approach to the care of the neonate and Family
- Professional, ethical and legal issues
What will attendees get out of the course?
By the end of the module learners will be able to:
- Critically reflect on the effects of maternal health and disease in order to fully understand the implications on the developing fetus and/or newborn.=
- Understand and critically evaluate professional, legal and ethical dimensions within the examination and assessment of the newborn.
- Demonstrate effective communication with parents and members of the multi-professional team.
- Demonstrate, through physical examination, the ability to identify normality in the term neonate with reference to the physiological adaptation to extra-uterine life.
Course Cost
- Enquiries regarding Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) funding should be directed to bcu.nurseeducation@wales.nhs.uk.
- Funding opportunities may be available for those working locally (i.e. in the north Wales and Powys areas), please contact the relevant module co-ordinator for details.
- All other application and funding related enquiries should be directed to the module co-ordinator .
Please see our Postgraduate Fees and Finance page for further information.
Entry Requirements
Applicants will require an undergraduate degree at 2:2 or higher, and must fulfil the following criteria to be considered eligible for this course:  
- NMC registered nurse, midwife or Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPH)
Application
How to Apply
Please make sure you read and follow the step-by-step application guide as this will specify which sections of the application form are compulsory for the type of course you want to apply for and save you time.
Please prepare the following information (in a Word document):
- Current employment details;
- Years of experience, and employment history (where relevant)
- Name of staff member and organisation that have approved your funding for this module.
This will speed up the process of completing the application form
To apply for this course, you need to create an account in our
You will need access to the email address you specify while creating your account to confirm it.
Step 2 - Application Tabs (Personal, Info, Contact)
After creating an account, you will see a homepage with several tabs:
- Personal
- Programme
- Info
- Contact
- Education
- Employment
- Language
- Finance
You need to complete all sections before submitting your application.
When a section is complete, a ‘tick’ symbol will appear below it.
- Click on ‘Non-graduating applications / Stand alone Modules’, then select ‘Non-graduating Postgraduate Taught’.
- In the next section, select Non-Graduating Taught Modules in Health(NGGT/HEALTH) Click Save and Continue.
- On the next page, the default for the first question is Full Time. You need to change this to ‘Part time’:
- You now need to input the module code. Examination of the Newborn: the code is NHS-4396. This section must be completed for your application to be processed.
- You also need to state the start date. Please make your selection, then click ‘Save and Continue’.
- IMPORTANT: You do not need to write a personal statement to apply for this course. Instead, please upload the document including employment, experience and education information that you have created prior to starting the application that contains the name of your current employer, the number of years of experience you have, and your highest qualification to date. Click Save and continue.
You only need to enter the details of your highest qualification to date, e.g. if you have a postgraduate qualification, please only only include this.
You will be asked for evidence of the qualification. Please either upload a copy of your qualification if it's easily accessible, or upload the Word document again (that you prepared earlier).
Please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘I have no employment history’ (as you have already provided this in your Word document).
If you are HEIW / Health Board funded, please answer the questions as follows:
- How will you finance your studies? Sponsored
- Exact name of funding authority: Health Board
- Country: United Kingdom
- Give details of the amount of the award? Fully funded.
- Sponsorship will cover: Tuition Fees
- Have you been awarded this funding? Please select ‘yes’ * Note that you will be required to upload evidence of the funding. If you wish to confirm ‘yes’ to this question, but do not have any written confirmation to upload, you can upload your Word document here again.
If you are self-funding, please provide all details as appropriate.