Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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Student Midwives Expectations and Experiences of Support
for Learning in the Clinical Area.
Magdalena Ohaja (Sr.)
MSc. (Midwifery Education), BSc. Nur, BSc. Mgt., RNT, PGDip
Mid, RM, RGN
Post Registration Midwifery Programme Clinical Coordinator
Education Centre
Coombe Women’s Hospital
Dublin 8
Introduction
Learning to be a midwife takes place in both academic and clinical
environment. There is therefore the need for appropriate teaching
strategies in both areas (Bewley 1995, Begley 1999, Hindley 1999).
Clinical education is central to midwifery/nursing curricula and the
provision of high quality practice placement remains vital for the
development of sound midwifery and nursing knowledge which will
ultimately lead to the development of competent practitioners
(Wilson-Barnett et al 1995, An Bord Altranais 2001, Williamson and
Webb 2001, Lee et al 2002, Chapple and Aston 2004, Dalton 2005,
Hutchings et al 2005, Mannix et al 2006). A review of the midwifery
literature reveals paucity of research examining the clinical support
for midwifery students. Nevertheless, in line with major changes
recently taking place in midwifery education in Ireland, the National
Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery
(2005) has identified, among other research priorities, the need to
provide educational support for student midwives in the clinical
area.
Aim of the study
The aim of the study was to explore, describe and understand
student midwives’ expectations and experiences of support for
learning in the clinical area.
Methodology
A qualitative phenomenological research underpinned by the
philosophy of Edmund Husserl guided the study. Participants
consisted of six student midwives who met the inclusion criteria and
agreed to take part in the study. The ethics committee granted the
permission for the study to be conducted and access to the
participant was gained through the principal midwife tutor. Written
informed consent was obtained from the participants. Individual
tape-recorded interviews formed the data collection method.
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