Curriculum at Maternidad La Luz

First Quarter

Academic:  250.5 Academic Hours   25 Academic Credits*
This quarter serves as an introduction to midwifery and an opportunity to acquire basic midwifery skills.  Classes are usually on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.  The Tuesday class is devoted to “birth talks” where students have the opportunity to discuss and review the births that they have recently attended.  First Quarter classes concentrate on prenatal care and include: 

Introduction to Midwifery:   In addition to orientation to Maternidad La Luz, this course includes classes on regulation of midwifery, ethics in midwifery practice, Spanish for midwives, medical terminology, infection control, and an introduction to midwifery research and writing practice protocols.

Prenatal Care:  This course prepares students to conduct routine a prenatal appointment and initial intake visit, including maternal physical assessment, abdominal examination, and venipuncture.  Other topics include preconceptional and prenatal nutrition and lifestyle, student research and presentations on pregnancy discomforts, as well as chart review and risk assessment.

Well-Woman Care:  Students learn how to perform physical and breast exams, pap smears, and other gynecological cultures.  They also have classes on sexually transmitted infections, vaginal infections, HIV/AIDS and the various strains of hepatitis, and family planning.

Basic Intrapartum & Postpartum:  This course focuses primarily on the skills needed to attend laboring and birthing women at Maternidad La Luz--including labor support and breastfeeding--and to conduct postpartum care of the mother and newborn.  Weekly peer review of primary births at Birth Talks is an important component of this course.

Anatomy & Physiology:  The first part of this course covers applied A & P, including the reproductive and endocrine systems and pelvimetry.  The second part covers maternal adaptations to pregnancy by system.

Laboratory Work & Screening:  Students learn how to understand laboratory results, both normal and abnormal values.  They also learn about the various screening and invasive tests used in genetic diagnostics and the steps in counseling, including ultrasonography.

Psychosocial Issues in Midwifery Care:   During orientation, students attend classes on the border and anti-racism to prepare them to work in the bicultural, border culture of El Paso.  Later in the course they study domestic violence during pregnancy, the impact of sexual abuse on maternity, and midwifery care of women with special needs--adolescents, older women, women of size, lesbians, and women with physical disabilities.

Prenatal Complications:  Students learn the skills and procedures to respond to emergency situations and visit the regional referral hospital.  There are classes on anemia and teratogens, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and gestational diabetes.  Students conduct research on prenatal complications and present their research findings to the class.

Academic work includes reading assignments, homework, research, book reports, oral presentations, site visits, take-home quizzes, and exams.

Clinical:  600 Clinical Hours*   30 Clinical Credits*
During the First Quarter each student is required to work a rotating schedule of two to three twenty-four hour shifts weekly, generally in a one-day-on, two-days-off pattern.  These shifts include:  prenatal and postpartum appointments and participation on the clinical birth rotation list.  Students on birth rotation take turns with birth attendance as primary care giver, providing labor support and coaching, catching the baby and providing immediate postpartum care of mother and baby; as an assistant on the birth team during second stage and immediate postpartum; or as a go-for or documenter.  The twenty-four hour shifts enables Maternidad La Luz to provide continuity of care within a clinical setting.        

Second Quarter

Academic:  120 Academic Hours    12 Academic Credits*
This quarter is designed for students who have completed the First Quarter or who have been accepted in the Advanced Placement Program.   Classes during the Second Quarter concentrate on normal labor, birth and postpartum, as well as complications that might arise. The class schedule is the same as outlined in the First Quarter.  Classes include:
 
Normal Labor & Birth:  Students begin the course with an introduction to the normal physiology of labor and birth.  They then attend classes on normal 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stages of labor and birth.  Additional classes include water birth, posterior presentation, fetal heart tones, and the normal immediate postpartum for the mother.

The Postpartum:  Topics range from the normal puerperium for the mother and normal neonatal adaptations to research on newborn issues and presentation of research findings to the class.

Complications during Birth & the Postpartum:  A wide variety of topics are covered in this course: shoulder dystocia; hemorrhage and shock; uterine and placental complications; prematurity, SGA and IUGR; postmaturity and LGA, PROM, hydramnios, and cord prolapse; and meconium.  Students attend the AAP Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) to get certified and learn to do basic suturing.  Also included is a class on unexpected outcomes and grief.

Topics in Midwifery:  Students prepare to become interns to the incoming class and explore their learning and teaching styles.  Peer review continues to be an important part of their midwifery experience as they present their primary births at Birth Talks.

Clinical:  600 Clinical Hours*    30 Clinical Credits*
During the Second Quarter each student is required to work a rotating schedule of two to three twenty-four hour shifts weekly.  These shifts include prenatal and postpartum appointments, labor support and coaching, birth attendance as primary care giver, assistant, documenter or go-for.  This quarter will broaden the student's knowledge of basic and advanced clinical skills and give the student the opportunity to increase her clinical and birth numbers.

Third Quarter

Academic:  77 Academic Hours   8 Academic Credits*
During during the Third Quarter, students are considered interns and continue to attend Birth Talks/ Peer Review and classes, as well as Midwifery Seminar.  Interns attend childbirth education classes and participate in teaching the classes to clients.  They also participate in Community Outreach and begin preparing for their research paper and presentation.  With its light class schedule, the Third Quarter provides time for the student to integrate their academic knowledge.

Advanced Midwifery Skills:  Classes include counseling skills for midwives, childbirth education, and advanced well-woman care.

Topics in Midwifery:  Students move to a higher level, taking midwifery to the community level with a community outreach project.  They explore topics for a research paper, present one of their own practice protocols, and lead a discussion on a controversial journal article in Midwifery Seminar.  Students study the past, present, and future of midwifery in the United States and internationally.

Emergency Skills:  Students participate in role-plays to orientate new students.

Clinical:  600 Clinical Hours*    30 Clinical Credits*
The Third Quarter focuses on improving clinical skills.  Interns are given more responsibility as they continue to provide primary care under the supervision of a Senior Midwife.  Clinical experience consists of two to three twenty-four hour shifts weekly.  Students enrolled in the One-Year Program will begin working with their on-call clients during this quarter unless they choose the Fifth Quarter Option.         

Fourth Quarter

Academic:  129 Academic Hours    13 Academic Credits*
During the Fourth Quarter, interns attend Birth Talks/Peer Review and participate in Midwifery Seminar.  Emergency skills class is included in every quarter.  Students in the One-Year Program will make a presentation.  Classes during the Fourth Quarter include: 

Advanced Midwifery Skills:  Students attend classes to learn to attend breech presentation, multiple birth, and other presentations.  They also learn advanced skills such as IV therapy and advanced suturing.  Additional topics include home birth, cesarean, and VBAC.

Advanced Midwifery Topics:  Classes include embryology, genetics, and pharmacology.

Alternative Therapies:  Topics include herbology and homeopathy.  Guest instructors are invited to teacher other alternative therapies and have included t'ai chi for midwives, infant massage, and shamanic journey.

Clinical:  600 Clinical Hours*    30 Clinical Credits*
Students enrolled in the One-Year continue to provide care for and attend the births of their on-call clients.  They work toward mastering skills and accepting more responsibility as a midwife providing primary care under supervision.  Additional clinical experience consists of two to three twenty-four hour shifts weekly.  Students who choose the Fifth Quarter Option and those enrolled in the Three-Year Program may begin to select their on-call clients during this quarter.

Fifth Quarter

Academic:  60  Academic Hours   5 Academic Credits*
Interns attend Birth Talks/Peer Review and participate in Midwifery Seminar during the Fifth Quarter and attend classes on emergency skills and chart review.  Students enrolled in the Extended Program or Fifth Quarter Option may make their presentation during this quarter.

Clinical:  360 Clinical Hours*   18 Clinical Credits*
For students enrolled in the Fifth Quarter Option and Three-Year Program, this quarter is a time for clinical synthesis and continuity of care by providing care for and attending the births of their on-call clients, as well as spending the equivalent of three 12-hour shifts a week in the clinic.  Fifth Quarter interns care for five on-call clients and Three-Year Program interns care for three on-call clients.

Sixth Quarter

Academic:  76 Academic Hours   7.5 Academic Credits*
The academic focus during the Sixth Quarter is on Research and Statistics.  Interns will choose a research topic and begin doing their research project.  During the Sixth Quarter interns also attend Birth Talks/Peer Review, Midwifery Seminar, and have classes on emergency skills and chart review. 

Clinical:  360 Clinical Hours*    18 Clinical Credits*
During the Sixth Quarter students provide care for and attend the births of three on-call clients and spend the equivalent of three 12-hour shifts per week in the clinic. 

Seventh Quarter

Academic:  76 Academic Hours   7.5 Academic Credits*
The Seventh Quarter academic classes focus on Epidemiology.  During the Seventh Quarter interns attend Birth Talks/Peer Review and Midwifery Seminar and have classes on emergency skills and chart review.

Clinical:  360 Clinical Hours*   18 Clinical Credits*
During the Seventh Quarter students provide care for and attend the births of three on-call clients and spend the equivalent of three 12-hour shifts in the clinic.

Eighth Quarter

Academic:  76 Academic Hours   7.5 Academic Credits*
The academic classes in the Eighth Quarter focus on Cultural Competency and Sociocultural Sensitivity in Midwifery Care.  Interns attend Birth Talks/Peer Review, Midwifery Seminar, and classes on emergency skills and chart review.  They also recertify in IV therapy and neonatal resuscitation and refine their protocols, forms, business plan, and other documents needed to set up a practice.

Clinical:  360 Clinical Hours*   18 Clinical Credits*  
During the Eighth Quarter interns provide care for and attend the births of three on-call clients and spend the equivalent of three 12-hour shifts per week in the clinic. 

Ninth Quarter

Academic: 51 Academic Hours*   5 Academic Credits*
The Ninth Quarter is a time for academic synthesis, is entirely independent study in addition to Birth Talks/Peer Review and Midwifery Seminar.  Interns will complete all the legal requirements to begin practice in the jurisdiction of their choice.  The research paper begun during the Sixth Quarter should be completed and handed in during the Ninth Quarter.

Clinical: 360 Clinical Hours* 18 Clinical Credits*
During the Ninth Quarter interns provide care for and attend the births of three on-call clients and spend the equivalent of three 12-hour shifts per week in the clinic. 

* Academic credits are based on a ratio of 10 classroom hours to 1 academic credit hour. Clinical credits are based on a ratio of 20 clinical hours to 1 clinical credit hour. All Clinical Hours are based on an average of actual client care as outlined in Maternidad La Luz’s Policy and Procedure manual.