Clinical Supervising competences (CS5)
• Opportunities for reflection and supervision
• Reflection on experiences during the internship
• Reflection on one’s own role in collaboration with the instructors on-site during the internship
• Preparation for the internship
• Organization of the internship process
• Opportunity for reflection and answering questions
One or more courses can be selected for individual specialization and in-depth study. Please note that the total workload must equal at least 3 ECTS total.
Topics of the electives offered address specific midwifery content as well as current developments in the profession for possible in-depth study in individual specialist areas or settings and target groups. Students can also take advantage of the opportunity to work on therapy cases or exchange knowledge on other relevant topics with students from other countries. There is also the opportunity to get to know project or research-related tasks.
Obstetrics and Postpartum Simulation
• Theoretical knowledge transfer and skills training take place in the corresponding course beforehand
• Combination and practice of individual skills in a specific simulation exercise
• Execution of the simulation exercise in the steps of briefing, execution, and debriefing
• Briefing: Explanation of the scenario, objectives, task assignment, role distribution, rules, and equipment
• Execution: Independent performance of tasks, observation of the scenario by the rest of the group via live stream
• Repetition and preparation to ensure optimal learning outcomes
• Debriefing: Structured review, reflection on the experience, and awareness of one’s own actions
• Debriefing phases: Reaction (description of the process), Understanding (reflection on decisions and potential improvements), and Summary (take-home message and positive closing remarks)
Liability Law and Risk Management
• Fundamentals of criminal and civil law in relation to the Midwifery Act
• From relational logic to legal logic
• Structure of the judiciary in Austria
• Legal capacity of the child
• Non-litigious jurisdiction
• Role of the expert witness
• Work of the expert
• Acting formally after an incident
• How do I protect myself?
• Negligence
• Justifications
• CIRS, a case for all cases
• Criminal and civil liability
• Differences between dependent and independent activities in the context of social security law, tax law, and labor law
• General labor contract law
• Maternity protection and parental leave
Neonatology and Pediatrics Advanced Course
• Preterm Infants: Causes and management of preterm births, lung maturation, adaptation and monitoring, common diseases (e.g., IRDS, IVH, NEC)
• Genetic and Other Malformations: Genetic disorders like Down syndrome, conditions such as celiac disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and managing children with disabilities
• Care and Nutrition: Care for “late preterm” infants, jaundice, breastfeeding support, and parenteral nutrition
• Delivery Room Scenarios: Managing premature placental abruption, post-term pregnancies, and their effects on newborns
• Practical Exercises: Systematic initial examination, neonatal resuscitation, and alignment with ERC guidelines
• Pathophysiology of Various Pathological Courses During Pregnancy and/or Childbirth, e.g., Hypertensive Disorders, Bleeding, Pregnancy Loss, Bradycardia, and/or Other Special Cases of CTG Interpretation, Preterm Labor, Maternal Emergencies
• Structured Action Sequences in Specific Emergency Situations or Pathological Courses
• Development of Systematic Medical Emergency Procedures in an Interdisciplinary Context
• Advanced Emergency Communication
Communicating about midwifery science
• Introduction to Scientific Terminology in Midwifery Science
• Fundamentals of Scientific Communication (Written and Oral)
• Presentation and Discussion of Research Findings in Midwifery Practice
• Critical Appraisal and Interpretation of Scientific Literature
• Evidence-Based Practice: Integrating Research Findings into Clinical Practice
• Creation and Presentation of Scientific Posters and Abstracts
• Interdisciplinary Communication in Science
Journal club and Excursion
• Definition, relevance and types of journal clubs
• Planning and organising journal clubs
• Reading strategies for scientific literature
• Study summaries
• Excursion participation
Preparation for the Bachelor’s Thesis and Statistics
• Writing an exposé
• Contents of a Bachelor’s Thesis
• Methodological Approach to write a Bachelor’s Thesis
Interdisciplinary networks and partnerships in the social sector
• History, Methods, and Fields of Social Work: Introduction to the fundamentals of social work and the use of genograms for analyzing family systems
• Biography Work and Reflection: Creation of genograms for reflecting on personal family systems and discussions about values and norms in the family of origin
• Child and Youth Welfare: Differences between foster care and adoption, complemented by an expert discussion on anonymous births and baby boxes
• Presentation and discussion of the opportunities and limitations of programs like “Early Help” through an expert dialogue
• Empowerment: Examination of empowerment on individual and collective levels, particularly through the work of self-help groups for parents of stillborn children
• Parent-Child Centers and Parental Counseling Centers: Overview of the services provided by these centers, focusing on attachment theory and its significance in social work
Psychosomatics in gynaecology
• Psychological Disorders: Overview of common psychological disorders (anxiety disorders, depression, borderline personality disorder, addiction, personality disorders, psychoses). Focus on postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth, with special emphasis on the sensitivity required by midwives in postpartum care
• Stillbirth: Examination of grief and grief counseling from a psychological perspective. Approaches to how midwives can support affected women and families in such situations
• Violence Against Women: Theoretical input on violence against women and its various forms. Practical approaches to supporting and caring for women affected by violence during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period
• Trauma: Insight into the significance and effects of trauma. Provision of both theoretical and practical elements to help those affected in acute situations
Internship 5 clinical postpartum ward
• Conducting a complete postpartum visit for both mother and child
• Independent preparation, organization, and recruitment of postpartum women for the visit
• Supervision and evaluation: During the visit, the execution is supervised by an instructor, followed by reflection and evaluation
• Initial, mid-term, and final discussions to clarify expectations and evaluate the learning process
• Continuous reflection, ongoing feedback on strengths and weaknesses for further development
Internship 5 maternity ward
• Independent care of women during physiological births, from admission to the delivery room to handover to the postpartum ward
• Deepening knowledge and experience regarding abnormal birth processes, such as fetal position and presentation anomalies, as well as delayed latent, first stage, or second stage of labor
• Practice in recognizing deviations, planning treatment, and implementing the plan
• Furthering knowledge of obstetric pathologies, including the application of guidelines and standards for treatment
• Active participation in procedures and decision-making processes, as well as reflection on emergency management
• Adjustment of the learning objectives according to the students’ level of training, and active support of the learning process through reflection and feedback