A Pocket Guide for Student Midwives

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’.