Welcome to your Cardiac Assessment for the Midwife Online Course 

Cardiac Conditions in Pregnancy and the Expanding Role of Midwives

Your Presenter: Anne Evans-Murray
Format: Online and available anytime
CPD: 5 Hours
Access: 12 months from the course start date. You can return to any part of the course as many times as needed. 
(Please NoteIf you purchased this course as a Nursing CPD financial subscriber which gave you a discounted price, your 12 months' access will only remain while you are an existing financial subscriber.)

Course Overview

Anne Evans-Murray, in collaboration with Nursing CPD, have developed this unique cardiac assessment course for Midwives. Throughout this online course, the experienced presenter will guide you through practical demonstrations to help you gain a deeper understanding of cardiac knowledge. Come away from this course feeling more confident in recognition of cardiac deterioration and with increased ability to refer to a cardiac specialist and communicate your assessments.

Recognise. Respond. Refer. Cardiac Confidence for Every Midwife.

Your Certificate

Certificate: Once you have completed all the modules of your course and the course evaluation, you will be able to generate a Certificate of Completion and download it for your records.  

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  • Designed for Nurses – Meets AHPRA standards with zero guesswork.
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Course Learning Outcomes

  • Review the cardiac complex: waves, segments and timing intervals and demonstrate the understanding of the foundation of interpretation of sinus rhythm and abnormal arrhythmias.
  • Demonstrate interpretation of life-threatening arrhythmias and outline the treatment according to the Australian and New Zealand Committee of Resuscitation guidelines (ANZCOR)
  • Demonstrate an understanding of 12 lead ECG interpretation in relation to identifying changes related to acute coronary syndrome – become proficient at interpreting a myocardial infarction.
  • Describe the pathophysiological development and nursing assessment of a variety of common cardiac disorders

WANT TO SEE ANNE LIVE?

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ANNE'S ONLINE COURSES

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Frequently Asked Questions

Help

If you’re stuck, need help accessing your course or would like tips and instructions, please contact us at enquiries@nursingcpd.com.au or 07 4151 3884 (Option 1)
online and on demand

Cardiac Assessment for Midwives:

When Cardiac Symptoms Aren’t “Just Pregnancy”

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Led by Anne Evans-Murray, this 5-hour online course will explore the essential role midwives play in recognising and responding to cardiac complications during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

Buy today - $210.00 inc GST

Why This Course Matters

Shortness of breath. Swelling. Fatigue. Palpitations.

In pregnancy, these can be normal — or early warning signs of serious cardiac disease.

This course helps midwives recognise when symptoms are not just pregnancy, assess risk confidently, and escalate care early and appropriately.

WATCH 7 VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

In these six sessions, Anne will teach you the key skills required to distinguish between normal pregnancy symptoms and red flags that may indicate serious cardiac issues such as LQTI, AF, SCAD, and heart failure.

SELF-PACED: LEARN ON DEMAND - 24/7

This self-paced course is available to you 24/7, allowing you to complete it anytime, anywhere at your convenience!

EARN A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Upon completing this online course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, available for download as a digital certificate or for printing as a hard copy.

What this Course is about

Cardiac disease is one of the leading causes of maternal illness and death in Australia and worldwide.

For midwives, early recognition and timely escalation of care are critical to improving maternal outcomes.


Midwives are often the first clinicians to identify subtle changes that may indicate cardiac deterioration. By recognising and responding to cardiac-related complications early, midwives can help prevent serious harm — and in some cases, save lives.

There is growing evidence internationally that midwives need strong cardiovascular assessment skills to identify early warning signs during pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period. Cardiac conditions may first present — or worsen — during these times.


This course supports midwives to confidently distinguish between normal physiological changes and symptoms that require further assessment, escalation, or multidisciplinary review.

Pregnancy places significant strain on the cardiovascular system, increasing risk for women with known or undiagnosed heart conditions. As the complexity of cardiac disease in pregnancy continues to rise, care increasingly involves a multidisciplinary pregnancy–heart team (cardio-obstetrics).

Midwives play a vital role within this team. You are often the clinician who:

  • Notices early or subtle deterioration
  • Identifies concerning patterns over time
  • Responds to women’s symptoms and concerns
  • Initiates escalation and further assessment


This specialised cardiac assessment course has been designed to support midwives at all stages of practice, from those building foundational confidence to experienced clinicians seeking deeper clinical insight.


Research consistently highlights the need for ongoing education as cardiac complications in pregnancy become more prevalent. This course provides practical, clinically relevant learning to support safe, confident midwifery practice in an increasingly complex care environment.

Why Cardiac Assessment Skills Matter in Midwifery Practice

Some women enter pregnancy with pre-existing heart conditions, while others develop cardiac complications during pregnancy or the postnatal period. In both cases, early identification is critical to reducing risk and improving outcomes for both mother and baby.


By developing cardiac assessment skills, midwives are better equipped to:

  • Recognise early cardiac red flags that may otherwise be missed
  • Initiate timely escalation and intervention
  • Support safer outcomes for women and their babies


Midwives trained in cardiac assessment are able to provide more comprehensive and confident care. This includes identifying potential indicators of cardiac disease such as:

  • Abnormal heart sounds
  • Unusual or concerning blood pressure readings
  • Irregular heart rhythms


With a stronger understanding of cardiac function, midwives can make informed clinical decisions and collaborate more effectively with obstetricians, cardiologists, and other healthcare professionals.


Clear communication of concerns is essential within multidisciplinary care. Midwives play a key role in sharing observations, recognising patterns, and supporting coordinated decision-making within the pregnancy–heart team.


Developing confidence in cardiac assessment also reduces the risk of missed or delayed recognition of deterioration. This protects maternal and fetal wellbeing and supports safer professional practice.


Strong cardiac assessment skills are particularly important when caring for women with known risk factors, including:

  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • A family history of heart disease


Building these skills demonstrates a proactive, safety-focused approach to midwifery care in an area of increasing clinical complexity.

At the completion of this course, you will have:

  • Explore the need for an increase in cardiac assessment skills and knowledge for midwives
  • Identified the most common cause of maternal mortality and morbidity and explored the link to life-threatening arrhythmias and antidepressants
  • Gained knowledge in the recognition of cardiac deterioration in three clinical scenarios that can occur in pregnancy and postpartum
  • Demonstrated understanding of risk factors, warning signs, and symptoms of potential cardiac deterioration

You will also learn how to:

  • To recognise signs and symptoms of cardiovascular complications, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, or irregular heart rhythms, that require immediate medical attention 

  • Recognise abnormal cardiovascular findings and refer women to specialised care promptly, ensuring timely management and improved outcomes

  • Have the skills to refer a patient to a specialist (e.g., cardiologist, obstetrician) based on cardiac findings and the patient's overall health
  • Understand the professional and legal aspects of cardiac care during pregnancy, including communication or referral to manage potential risks to maternal and foetal health
  • Identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease and complications during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and pre-existing heart conditions
  • Examine three clinical scenarios relating to Long QT Interval syndrome (LQTI), Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in pregnancy and recognition of red flags

After more than a decade as a midwife, this course completely changed how I approach cardiac assessment. It clarified what had always felt like a grey area, especially around what’s normal in pregnancy versus a warning sign, such as AF or long QT. Anne’s clear explanations, rhythm strip walk-throughs, and practical scenarios gave me real confidence. I now feel better equipped to spot red flags and escalate early. ” — Sarah

Course Overview

Module One
Module Two
Module Three

Cardiac Assessment for Complications in Pregnancy: Atrial Fibrillation and Preeclampsia

This module builds midwives’ knowledge and practical skills in understanding the pathophysiology, presentation, and complications of atrial fibrillation (AF) in pregnancy, and its relationship with preeclampsia.

Rising rates of obesity and hypertension in pregnancy represent a significant public health challenge and contribute to increased cardiovascular risk. This module explores how these factors influence maternal cardiac health and how preeclampsia can contribute to cardiac deterioration, including the development of atrial fibrillation.

Midwives will examine the effects of these risk factors on pregnancy and maternal outcomes, with a focus on early recognition and timely escalation of care.

The module includes practical rhythm recognition, with demonstrations and guided learning to support midwives in identifying:
  • Normal sinus rhythm
  • Key characteristics of atrial fibrillation
  • Using cardiac monitoring and ECG interpretation.

The health impacts of obesity in pregnancy are also explored, including the increased risk of:
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Preeclampsia
  • Caesarean section
  • Prolonged labour and birth complications
  • Delivering a larger-than-average baby

While preeclampsia is common and often mild, this module reinforces that it can also progress to a serious, life-threatening condition with significant cardiovascular implications.

Midwives will develop confidence in recognising early signs of deterioration, understanding the complexity of managing atrial fibrillation during pregnancy, and working effectively within a multidisciplinary pregnancy–heart team.

Cardiac Assessment for Complications in Pregnancy: LQTI (Long QT Interval)

This module supports midwives in developing advanced knowledge and practical skills to screen for and assess cardiovascular risk in pregnancy, with a specific focus on the Long QT Interval (LQTI).

Midwives play a critical role in the early identification of cardiac risk. As rates of cardiac comorbidities and maternal mortality continue to rise globally, there is increasing recognition of the need for midwives to strengthen their cardiovascular assessment capabilities.

This module explores international data highlighting the expanding role of the midwife in identifying early warning signs of cardiovascular deterioration during pregnancy.

Midwives will learn how to recognise risk factors and red flags that may indicate the development of cardiac disorders, such as Long QT Interval — a condition increasingly recognised in pregnancy.

The module examines factors that increase the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias, including:
  • Obesity
  • Vomiting and dehydration
  • Antidepressant use
  • Advanced maternal age

Midwives will build confidence in determining when escalation of care is required and in collaborating effectively with obstetricians, cardiologists, and other healthcare professionals.

The content also addresses the professional and legal responsibilities of midwives when managing cardiac concerns in pregnancy, highlighting the importance of upskilling to reduce clinical, professional, and medico-legal risk.

A key focus of this module is supporting midwives to confidently distinguish between normal pregnancy symptoms and signs that may indicate emerging or life-threatening cardiac complications related to arrhythmias.

Cardiac Assessment for Complications in Pregnancy: Acute Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure 

This module focuses on acute myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure in pregnancy, including peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), conditions associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality.


The causes of acute myocardial infarction in pregnancy are broadly classified into two categories:

  • Atherosclerotic disease (coronary artery blockage)
  • Non-atherosclerotic causes, most commonly spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)


While myocardial infarction in pregnancy was once considered rare, recent data show an increasing incidence, with a high risk of maternal death. Midwives, therefore, play a critical role in early recognition and escalation of care.


Women with pre-existing coronary artery disease are at increased risk of myocardial infarction throughout pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period. Importantly, myocardial infarction can also occur in young, otherwise healthy women with no traditional risk factors due to SCAD.


SCAD is increasingly recognised in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Clinical presentation is often atypical, and women may not report classic ischaemic chest pain. For this reason, midwives must understand the presentation of SCAD and maintain a high index of suspicion when symptoms are subtle or non-specific.


This module also explores the rising incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) — a form of heart failure that develops late in pregnancy or shortly after birth, often in women with no prior diagnosis of heart disease.


Contributing factors to the increasing incidence of heart failure in pregnancy include:

  • Advancing maternal age
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Pre-existing cardiovascular disease


Midwives will develop the knowledge needed to recognise early cardiac deterioration, understand disease processes, and support timely escalation to reduce the risk of serious complications.

Buy today - $210.00 inc GST

"I have been told by several work colleagues how great Anne’s courses are. I was not disappointed at all. I would have to say as a first time attendee at one of Anne’s courses, this is the best presentation I have ever been to….. I will certainly be back for more." - KAREN

Our Presenter

Anne Evans-Murray

R.N., BHlthSc, MACCCN, Grad.Dip Ed, MEd, Dip Counselling, GradCertCritCare, CertIV Training and Assessment, CertIV in Mediation
Anne has a passion for teaching which she does in an unpretentious way that ensures you will not only understand and retain what she presents but will enjoy this learning experience. She has extensive experience of over 26 years lecturing for Gold Coast Health District and Griffith University.

Anne is a frequent presenter at workshops, conferences & seminars throughout Australia & New Zealand on subjects such as ECG interpretation, clinical assessment of the deteriorating patient, assertiveness and leadership. 

How you will Learn

The 5-hour Cardiac Assessment for Midwives Course is fully online and self-paced, allowing you to start anytime and progress at your own speed. With 24/7 on-demand access, you can fit the training into your schedule at your convenience.

5 hours of interesting and engaging online presentations

24/7 access to all the course modules and learning materials

Full ongoing course support via email

Your Certificate

Certificate: Once you have completed all the modules of your course and the course evaluation, you will be able to generate a Certificate of Completion and download it for your records.  

Do you need an evidence portfolio to keep your records in order?

Stay AHPRA-Compliant with Ease – Your CPD, Simplified!

Keeping up with AHPRA’s CPD requirements doesn’t have to be stressful. CPD Portfolio makes it effortless for nurses to track, manage, and organise their CPD evidence—all in one place.
  • Hassle-free compliance – No more scrambling at audit time.
  • Easy uploads & tracking – Keep all your CPD evidence organised.
  • Designed for Nurses – Meets AHPRA standards with zero guesswork.
Sign up with CPD Portfolio today and take control of your CPD evidence!
Use coupon code NCPDREF for an exclusive 20% discount.

Buy today - $210.00 inc GST

What others say about Anne's Cardiac Education

The best explanation from a lecturer who just doesn’t lecture to you, but is passionate about what they are teaching. Making it fun and interactive. Making sense of ECG’s and learning an easy technique to do it.
  • Margaret, Cardiac Assessment and Telemetry
The way Anne taught the topic, with all the examples and stories, really sticks.

With practice applying the famous five steps and using Anne’s other interpretation tools, I will grow my confidence to not only competently interpret ECGs but also advocate for timely patient care, when necessary, as time is muscle.
  • Jodie, Cardiac and ECG Interpretation
Omg Anne, words cannot explain how easily you describe ECG and how easy you make it to remember.
  • Liz, Telemetry & ECG Interpretation

Frequently Asked Questions

WANT TO SEE ANNE LIVE?

Explore Anne's upcoming CPD seminars and conferences.

ANNE'S ONLINE COURSES

The future of the clinical ward environment.