92279 Child and Family Health

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

This subject extends students' specific knowledge and skills in order to attain beginning practice in children's health care. Students apply their knowledge of growth and development, children's health and health breakdown, child and family processes to the care of infants, children and their families. Principles of practice across a range of health care settings are addressed.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. appreciate the place of the family in contemporary Australian society (ANMC competencies: 4.1; 4.2)
2. analyse social and health issues which affect the family as a unit (ANMC competencies: 5.1; 5.4)
3. apply knowledge of normal growth and development patterns to the care of the newborn (ANMC competencies: 5.2; 5.3)
4. understand the complex issues associated with immunisation and its uptake (ANMC competencies: 5.6)
5. identify the ethical and legal issues relevant to the care of babies including child protection, mandatory reporting (ANMC competencies: 7.1; 7.2)
6. examine child safety issues (ANMC competencies: 10.1; 10.2)
7. understand the individual and family's response to stresses from illness in a family member and life crises (ANMC competencies: 9.1; 9.2)
8. appreciate the impact of a developmental disability or chronic illness on the woman and her family (ANMC competencies: 9.1; 9.2)
9. appreciate the importance of the relationship between the newborn baby and parents (ANMC competencies: 6.1; 12.1; 12.2)
10. evaluate the role of fathering and its impact on the development of the child
11. critically evaluate the impact of parenting on the woman and family relationships (ANMC competencies: 3.1; 3.2; .3.3)
12. explore the opportunity for midwives and child and family health nurses to collaborate and 'dovetail' their care in the early postnatal period (ANMC competencies: 2.3; 8.1; 8.2).

Content

• Introduction to subject — primary health care and health promotion in context of child and family health
• Transition to parenthood
• Growth and development
• Brain development in the early years
• Theoretical perspectives
• Cultural perspectives
• Sleep and settling
• Fatherhood
• Work/life balance
• Mental health issues
• Transition of care between midwives and child and family health nurses
• The impact of the NSW Department of Health Supporting Families Early (2008) policy on midwifery and child and family health nursing practice