NSG-432 / NSG-432C Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family

Assignment 5: Obstetric/Intrapartum Care Plan and Growth & Development Teaching Brief

1. Assessment Overview

Unit/Program: Pre-Licensure BSN
Course: NSG-432 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (theory) with NSG-432C Clinical
Assessment Type: Individual Level 3 OB care plan plus brief parent teaching and growth-and-development write-up
Placement: Middle of the OB rotation after core content on pregnancy, labour and birth, postpartum, and normal newborn
Length: 3–4 page written care plan (approximately 1,000–1,200 words) plus a 500–600 word parent teaching and growth-and-development brief
Weighting: 15–20% of course grade; contributes to clinical competence evaluation

The assignment consolidates Level 3 obstetric nursing skills by requiring you to design a focused care plan for a labouring or postpartum client and create developmentally appropriate anticipatory guidance for the childbearing family.

2. Clinical Scenario Context

You will base your work on a de-identified client from your NSG-432C clinical experience, such as intrapartum, immediate postpartum, or newborn, or on a faculty-provided obstetric case scenario.

Examples include:

• Induced labour at term

• Preeclampsia without severe features

• Primary caesarean delivery

• Postpartum haemorrhage risk

• Late preterm newborn with feeding challenges

Your documentation must reflect a holistic approach to the childbearing family that addresses physical, psychosocial, cultural, and educational needs, consistent with NSG-432C clinical competencies.

3. Task Description

3.1 OB Care Plan (3–4 pages)

Using the NSG-432 Level 3 OB care plan template or equivalent structure, complete a care plan for a single client encounter that demonstrates safe, evidence-based care.

i. Focused Client Overview

• Provide a brief narrative of the client situation including parity and gravida, gestational age, reason for admission, relevant obstetric history, and current status.

• Include a concise summary of significant assessment findings such as vital signs, pain, foetal heart rate pattern, vaginal bleeding, uterine tone, breastfeeding status, and bonding behaviours.

ii. Priority Nursing Diagnoses (NANDA)

• Identify two nursing diagnoses and clearly indicate one priority diagnosis reflecting Level 3 expectations.

• Write each diagnosis in full NANDA format with supporting assessment data.

iii. Goals and Expected Outcomes

• For each diagnosis, create two SMART goals, one short-term and one focused on health promotion or prevention.

• State clearly how you will determine whether each goal is met, partially met, or unmet.

iv. Nursing and Interprofessional Interventions with Rationales

• List at least three specific nursing interventions for each diagnosis.

• Include at least one interprofessional intervention where appropriate.

• Provide brief, evidence-based rationales for each intervention.

v. Evaluation Plan

• Describe how you will evaluate the effectiveness of your interventions using specific maternal, foetal, or newborn indicators.

• Indicate how you would adjust your care if outcomes are not achieved.

Your care plan must demonstrate integration of obstetric assessment skills, understanding of common complications, and family-centred care principles.

3.2 Growth and Development / Parent Teaching Brief (500–600 words)

Prepare a concise teaching brief that provides developmentally appropriate anticipatory guidance for the childbearing family.

i. Developmental Stage Focus

• Select one age range most relevant to your client’s situation.

• Summarise key physical, cognitive, and psychosocial milestones using clear parent-friendly language.

ii. Anticipatory Guidance Content

• Outline 3–4 priority teaching points in areas such as nutrition, sleep, safety, and routine health care.

• Link each teaching point to a specific risk, need, or concern identified in your care plan.

iii. Culturally Sensitive Communication

• Describe at least one way you would adapt your education for the family’s cultural, spiritual, or language background while maintaining safety and adherence to best practices.

The teaching brief should be written as if you were creating a short script or outline to use when speaking with parents in the clinical setting.

4. Assignment Requirements and Formatting

• Length: 3–4 pages for the care plan plus 500–600 words for the teaching brief; double-spaced; standard academic font.

• Structure: Use clear headings such as Client Overview, Nursing Diagnoses, Goals and Outcomes, Interventions and Rationales, Evaluation, Parent Teaching and Growth and Development.

• Sources: Incorporate at least three current peer-reviewed or guideline sources published between 2018 and 2026.

• Confidentiality: De-identify all client information and comply with clinical documentation policies.

• Style: Use the required referencing style consistently, such as APA or Harvard.

5. Marking Criteria / Scoring Rubric (Summarized)

Total: 100 marks

5.1 OB Care Plan (75 marks)

i. Clinical Summary and Problem Focus (15 marks)

• High Distinction: Client overview is succinct, clinically rich, and clearly frames the obstetric situation.

• Pass: Main issues identified but some details or risks are implied rather than stated.

• Fail: Overview lacks clarity or omits major concerns.

ii. Nursing Diagnoses and Goals (20 marks)

• High Distinction: Diagnoses accurately reflect obstetric priorities and are fully supported by assessment data. SMART goals are clear and relevant.

• Pass: Appropriate diagnoses and goals but some elements lack precision.

• Fail: Diagnoses incomplete or goals vague.

iii. Interventions, Rationales, and Safety (25 marks)

• High Distinction: Interventions are specific, safety-focused, and evidence-based.

• Pass: Interventions sound but somewhat generic.

• Fail: Interventions incomplete or unsafe.

iv. Evaluation and Clinical Reasoning (15 marks)

• High Distinction: Evaluation criteria are concrete and demonstrate strong clinical judgment.

• Pass: Evaluation present but partly generic.

• Fail: Limited or unclear evaluation.

5.2 Parent Teaching / Growth and Development Brief (25 marks)

i. Developmental Content and Accuracy (10 marks)

• High Distinction: Content aligns with age group and current paediatric and OB sources.

• Pass: Generally accurate with minor omissions.

• Fail: Important inaccuracies.

ii. Relevance to Case and Family Needs (10 marks)

• High Distinction: Teaching clearly connects to the client context.

• Pass: Some linkage present.

• Fail: Generic and not tailored.

iii. Cultural Sensitivity and Communication (5 marks)

• High Distinction: Thoughtful adaptation for culture and language.

• Pass: General recognition without specific strategies.

• Fail: Little or no cultural consideration.

6.

A primiparous woman on postpartum day one after an uncomplicated vaginal birth required support with pain control, fundal checks, and early breastfeeding. The priority diagnosis of risk for postpartum haemorrhage related to uterine atony and prolonged labour directed focused assessment of uterine tone, amount and character of lochia, and vital signs, together with prompt bladder emptying and regular fundal massage as indicated. Parent education on expected lochia changes, warning signs of excessive bleeding, and the importance of seeking urgent care if these occur gives the family practical tools to recognise complications after discharge (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2018).

Effective postnatal education is strongly associated with improved maternal confidence, higher breastfeeding continuation rates, and earlier identification of complications once families return home. Structured discharge teaching that focuses on practical warning signs, infant feeding cues, and when to seek medical review supports safer transitions from hospital to community care and reinforces family-centred practice principles (World Health Organization, 2022).

7. Learning Resources / References

1. London, M.L., Ladewig, P.A., Davidson, M.R., Ball, J.W. and Bindler, R.M. (2020) Maternal & child nursing care. 6th edn. Harlow: Pearson.

2. Perry, S.E., Hockenberry, M.J., Lowdermilk, D.L. and Wilson, D. (2018) Maternity and pediatric nursing. 3rd edn. St. Louis: Elsevier.

3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2018) ‘Optimizing postpartum care’, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 131(5), pp. e140–e150.

4. World Health Organization (2018) WHO recommendations: Intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience. Geneva: WHO.

5. Perry, S.E., Hockenberry, M.J. and Wilson, D. (2023) Maternal child nursing care in Canada. 3rd edn. Toronto: Elsevier.

6. World Health Organization (2022) WHO guideline on postnatal care of the mother and newborn. Geneva: WHO.