Syllabus for UK NMC CBT Midwifery

The UK NMC CBT (Computer-Based Test) for Midwives is designed to assess the theoretical knowledge, understanding, and application of midwifery principles required for safe and effective practice in the UK, reflecting the standards expected of a newly qualified midwife.

The CBT is based on the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Midwives (2019), often referred to as “The Future Midwife” standards. It is divided into two parts:

• Part A: Numeracy
• Part B: Clinical (Midwifery-specific)

While there isn’t a single, explicit “syllabus” document listing every topic in bullet points like a traditional school curriculum, the content is derived directly from the six domains of the Standards of Proficiency for Midwives. The CBT assesses how candidates apply these standards in various clinical scenarios.

Here’s a breakdown of the syllabus, based on the NMC’s Standards of Proficiency for Midwives (2019)and general CBT information:

UK NMC CBT Syllabus for Midwives (Based on 2019 Standards of Proficiency)

The CBT for midwives is mapped against the six domains of the NMC’s Standards of Proficiency for Midwives. Candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding across all these areas.

Part A: Numeracy (15 questions, 30 minutes)

This section assesses fundamental mathematical skills essential for safe midwifery practice. Questions are applied to a midwifery context.

• Drug Calculations:
  • Dosage calculations (e.g., tablets, liquids, injections)
  • Infusion rates (ml/hr, drops/min)
  • Conversions (e.g., mg to mcg, ml to litres)
  • Body weight calculations for medication
  • Dilutions
• Fluid Balance Calculations:
  • Intake and output calculations
  • Total fluid administration over a period
• Basic Arithmetic & Measurement:
  • Fractions, decimals, percentages
  • Metric and imperial conversions (less common, but general awareness is useful)
  • Interpretation of charts and graphs

Part B: Clinical (100 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours 30 minutes)

This section assesses clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and decision-making aligned with the NMC’s professional standards for midwives. The questions are derived from the six domains of the Standards of Proficiency:

Domain 1: Being an accountable, autonomous, professional midwife

• Professionalism and Accountability:
  • The NMC Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour.
  • Legal and ethical frameworks (e.g., consent, safeguarding, mental capacity, data protection, human rights).
  • Accountability for own actions and decisions.
  • Confidentiality and information sharing.
  • Reflective practice and lifelong learning.
  • Raising concerns and whistleblowing.
  • Challenging discriminatory behaviour.
• Research and Evidence-Based Practice:
  • Understanding and applying research evidence.
  • Using data and reports to inform practice and promote evidence-informed decision-making for women.
• Leadership and Management:
  • Understanding the midwife’s role as a leader and promoting excellence.

Domain 2: Safe and effective midwifery care: promoting and providing continuity of care and carer

• Continuity of Care:
  • Principles and benefits of continuity of care and carer.
  • Building professional relationships and partnerships with women and their families.
  • Collaboration with other healthcare professionals (MDT).
• Safety and Risk Management:
  • Identifying, managing, and reducing risks to women, newborn infants, and others.
  • Infection prevention and control.
  • Safe medication management (ordering, receiving, storing, administering, and disposal).
  • Incident reporting (e.g., Datix) and learning from adverse events and near misses.

Domain 3: Universal care for all women and newborn infants

• Antenatal Care:
  • Diagnosing pregnancy, holistic assessment (physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual).
  • Health promotion and preventative ill health strategies (e.g., nutrition, lifestyle, smoking cessation).
  • Normal physiological changes in pregnancy.
  • Recognising deviations from normal.
  • Screening tests (e.g., blood tests, scans).
  • Preparation for childbirth and parenthood.
• Intrapartum Care:
  • Physiology of labour and birth.
  • Monitoring the well-being of the woman and fetus during labour.
  • Pain management in labour.
  • Assisted birth and perineal care.
  • Managing the third stage of labour.
• Postnatal Care:
  • Physiological changes in the postnatal period for the woman.
  • Care of the newborn infant (e.g., immediate examination, feeding, screening tests).
  • Promoting maternal and infant bonding.
  • Contraception and sexual health in the postnatal period.
  • Supporting women’s choices and informed decision-making.

Domain 4: Additional care for women and newborn infants with complications

• Identifying and Managing Complications:
  • Recognising and responding to obstetric emergencies (e.g., postpartum haemorrhage, eclampsia, shoulder dystocia).
  • Care for women with pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, mental health conditions).
  • Care for women with complications arising during pregnancy, labour, or the postnatal period.
  • Care of newborn infants with specific health or social needs (e.g., prematurity, congenital disorders, pathological conditions).
• Escalation and Referral:
  • Timely consultation, referral to, and collaboration with other professionals (e.g., obstetricians, paediatricians, social workers).
  • Interpreting assessment data and making appropriate decisions for additional care.

Domain 5: Promoting excellence: the midwife as colleague, scholar, and leader

• Teamwork and Collaboration:
  • Working effectively within multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills in diverse settings.
  • Mentoring and supporting students and colleagues.
• Quality Improvement:
  • Actively contributing to quality improvement and research activities.
  • Promoting a learning culture within the workplace.
• Leadership:
  • Demonstrating leadership behaviours in practice.
  • Taking responsibility for own continuing professional development.

Domain 6: The midwife as skilled practitioner

• Core Midwifery Skills:
  • Safe demonstration of evidence-based best practice in all core and domain-specific skills and procedures. This includes, but is not limited to:
    • Physical assessment of women and newborn infants.
    • Venepuncture, cannulation.
    • Drug administration (oral, intramuscular, intravenous).
    • Suturing (perineal repair).
    • Resuscitation skills (adult and neonatal).
    • Infection control procedures.
    • Documentation and record keeping.
    • Basic life support.
    • Use of equipment (e.g., CTG, electronic monitoring).