Essential Competencies for Midwifery Prepared by: Mayuri Gamit M.Sc Nursing (OBG) Nursing tutor

1. Essential Competencies for Midwifery
Prepared by: Mayuri Gamit
M.Sc Nursing (OBG)
Nursing tutor

2.  The Council adopted the International Confederation
of Midwives (ICM) competencies for the training of
nurse practitioners in midwifery for India and the
framework is given below:

3. ICM Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice (2019) The
competencies are organized under 4 categories/domains.

4. COMPETENCY CATEGORY 1: GENERAL
COMPETENCIES
 NPMs( Nurse Practitioner in Midwifery) demonstrate
professional accountability as an autonomous
practitioner in the delivery of midwifery care as per
ICM standards adopted by the Council that is
consistent with moral, and humanistic principles in
midwifery practice.

5. Competencies:
1a. Assume responsibility for own decisions and actions as an
autonomous practitioner
1b. Assume responsibility for self-care including personal safety and
self-development as a midwife
1c. Appropriately delegate aspects of care and provide supervision
1d. Utilize research to inform practice

6.  1e. Uphold the fundamental human rights of
individuals when providing midwifery care
1f. Adhere to laws ethical, regulatory requirements,
codes of conduct for midwifery practice
 1g. Facilitate women to make individual choices about
care

7.  1h. Demonstrate effective interpersonal
communication with women and families, health care
teams, and community groups
1i. Facilitate normal birth processes in institutional
and community settings, including women’s homes
1j. Assess the health status, screen for health risks,
and promote general health and well-being of women
and infants

8.  1k. Prevent and treat common health problems related
to reproduction and early life
1l. Recognize conditions outside midwifery scope of
practice and refer appropriately
1m. Care for women who experience physical and
sexual violence and abuse

9. COMPETENCY CATEGORY 2: PRE-PREGNANCY AND
ANTENATAL CARE
 NPMs Perform health assessment of woman and
fetus, promote their health and well-being, detect
complications during pregnancy, and provide care to
women with an unexpected pregnancy

10. Competencies:
2a. Provide pre-pregnancy and antenatal care
2b. Determine the health status of women
2c. Assess the fetal wellbeing
2d. Monitor the progression of pregnancy
2e. Promote and support healthy behaviors that
improve their wellbeing

11.  2f. Provide anticipatory guidance related to pregnancy, birth,
breastfeeding, parenthood, and change in the family
 2g. Detect, manage, and refer women with complicated
pregnancies
2h. Assist the woman and her family to plan for an appropriate
place of birth
2i. Provide care to women with an unintended or mistimed
pregnancy

12. COMPETENCY CATEGORY 3: CARE DURING LABOUR AND
CHILDBIRTH
 The NPMs continue to monitor and provide care to
women during labor that facilitates physiological
processes and safe birth, immediate care to newborn
infants, and detection complications in mother and
infant.

13. Competencies:
3a. Promote physiologic labor and birth
3b. Manage a safe spontaneous vaginal birth and
prevent complications
3c. Provide care of the newborn immediately after
birth

14. Competency Category 4: Ongoing Care of
Women and Newborns
 The NPMs continue to perform health assessment of
mother and infant, provide health education and support
for breast feeding, detect complications, and initiate
family planning services.

15.  Competencies:
 4a. Provide postnatal care for the healthy woman
 4b. Provide care to healthy newborn infant
 4c. Promote and support breast feeding
 4d. Detect and treat or refer postnatal complications in woman
 4e. Detect and manage health problems in newborn infant
 4f. Provide family planning services

16. Referances:
 https://www.bareactslive.com/ACA/act3794.htm