A Pocket Guide For Student Midwives

Written by two experienced midwives and lecturers, A Pocket Guide for Student Midwives is a must–read for both degree and diploma student midwives as well previously registered nurses. Focusing first on the language of midwifery, the book then goes on to explore common conditions, procedures, emergency situations, and supporting information. A Pocket Guide for Student Midwives is a well structured, easy to read book offering student midwives everything they need to grasp the key elements of midwifery language, knowledge and skills. Section one includes relevant terms, abbreviations and definitions. Some of the language is colloquial in nature e.g. paed. (referring to a paediatrician) but is included to aid understanding and to encourage the use of correct terminology. Section two is a quick reference guide, enhanced by visual material to aid comprehension of normality and anomalies. The innovative action flow charts enables rapid access to information that logically guides you through procedures in potentially life threatening situations, in both home and hospital settings. To further aid learning, information is included on midwifery skills, and common obstetric, neonatal and medical conditions that the student midwife may encounter during practice. The ability to quickly refer to an overview of new incidents or conditions will enhance the student s confidence in participating in the provision of care for the mother and baby. Additionally, the prompts for further activities and reading will offer direction to the student to build on the basics and to relate to local policies and practices, and professional issues. A Pocket Guide for Student Midwives is suitable for the new non–nurse student midwife, as it addresses the relevant basic nursing skills, the experienced nurse entering the midwifery profession and senior student midwives alike. Qualified midwives will find it useful as an aide memoire . This book is written with both degree and diploma student midwives in mind. It is split into two sections, each alphabetical. The first section contains some of the language of midwifery: terms, abbreviations and definitions. The second section contains common conditions, procedures, emergency situations, and supporting information. Each topic includes further factors that involve recognition, prevention, and actions to take in an emergency situation that may be in the form of flow/action charts. The procedures that are included have an overview of the ′how to′, (frequently including the preparation needed); and the ′why′, supported by research or evidence, and Midwives rules and standards (NMC 2004b) and The NMC code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics (NMC 2004a). The references used provide useful evidence to support practice. Finally, the supporting information is varied and ranges from details about Government and international initiatives to available support groups and useful websites.