Examination of the Newborn

The Examination of the Newborn course enables you to develop skills in the newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE). The course will develop your skills in the holistic examination of the newborn whilst also developing  a comprehensive knowledge of environmental, social and psychological factors that can affect the development of the newborn . The EON course is essential in the current clinical environment where midwives in particular are becoming the lead practitioner in examination of the newborn.

What's covered in the course?

The course covers anatomy and physiology of the development of the fetus and baby so that you can understand the relationship of pregnancy events and potential problems you may encounter. You will study the 4 Public Health England Standards (2016) of heart, eyes, hips and testes in detail including anatomy and physiology and simulation of examination.  You will also be steered through a holistic, examination of the baby so that you can recognise normality and therefore detect and refer babies with problems.  

Experts who contribute to your learning including a consultant Paediatrician with cardiology expertise, experts in ankyloglossia, cleft lip and palate and educators from the national genomics project.  The university team  delivering the programme are all qualified midwives who have undertaken addition training in neonatal and physical examination, and who all practice clinically in local Trusts such as Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Foundation Trust, Heart of England Trust and City  and Sandwell Trust 

You attend this part time course for 9 days over 20 weeks.  In addition, you have a self-directed study day. Students that have completed the course have found the support of their manager essential  in helping to organise clinical practice. The clinical practice element requires you to undertake 40 examinations with a qualified mentor.. You will need to secure the support of a clinical mentor and this can be a midwife who has undertaken NIPE training (12 months experience) or a senior paediatrician or GP with expertise in this examination.   

Why Choose Us?

• We maintain a national educational profile with Public Health England in relation to NIPE provision
• We have a pioneering approach to driving the national curriculum by integrating examination on of the newborn into undergraduate programmes
• We use of simulation to develop skills prior to undertaking these in the clinical environment
• We have excellent practice placement links promoting midwives as the lead  practitioner to  examine the healthy newborn
• We have experienced and clinically current facilitators who undertake the clinical role of examiners of the newborn
• We provide training to those undertaking the 6-8 week examination such as Health Visitors and General Practitioners, promoting a standardised approach to detecting and referring babies with problems in accordance with NIPE standards 

Course structure

The 9 study days are a mixture of theory and skills simulation. Expert teachers support sessions.  You will need to undertake your clinical assessments and complete  practice portfolio of 40 examinations. Of these, 15 will be formally assessed by your clinical mentor. 

What's the aim of the course?

Successful completion of this course will allow Midwives, Neonatal Nurses and Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (Health Visitors) to be deemed competent to carry out the holistic newborn and physical examination of a term baby in accordance with Public Health England’s Programme (2016).

How much study is involved?

The content of the programme is delivered over approximately 20 weeks and includes nine compulsory study days and one self-directed study day that you will need to negotiate with clinical managers to have.

You are required to undertake 40 clinical examinations of babies and it is essential that you make a commitment to attend placements throughout the programme. You are advised to make enquiries about how you will access placement on a regular basis, and ensure you have the support of clinical managers to do this. From previous students’ experiences, a minimum of 4 hours a week, or the equivalent, has been required.

In addition to attending BCU and clinical placement, you are expected to undertake study and will need to consider this when planning their studies.

You need to ensure you have of a mentor and will need to arrange to be mentored and assessed clinically by one of the following:

• A paediatrician at registrar level or above
• Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner who has carried out role for 12 months
• Midwife / Nurse Practitioner/ Specialist community public health nurse (Health Visitor) who have completed the examination of the newborn and have practised for 12 months