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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A qualitative analysis of Australian midwifery students' perspectives of Midwifery Practice Experience: Characteristics that enhance or diminish clinical education placements
Women and Birth , Vol.38(2), pp.1-8
2025
PMID: 39908721
Abstract
Background
Midwifery education in Australia faces challenges in combining theoretical and practical experiences, with reports of inconsistent support and supervision during Midwifery Practice Experience (MPE), alongside significant financial and personal costs to students. National evaluation and improvement initiatives are essential to ensure that midwifery students receive effective and high-quality clinical learning opportunities.
Aim
This study aimed to answer two research questions: 1) How do midwifery students describe their Midwifery Practice Experiences? 2) What are the characteristics of Midwifery Practice Experiences that enhance or diminish midwifery student learning?
Methods
National midwifery student survey data, collected through the National Placement Evaluation Centre. Data were inclusive of the 2023 calendar year. Data entered as ‘free text’ responses were analysed thematically.
Findings
A total of 795 midwifery students completed the Placement Evaluation Tool (PET-Midwifery) during the data collection period, with 297 (37.4 %) providing a ‘free text’ response. Students were enrolled in 17 Australian Universities and represented every State and Territory except for the Australian Capital Territory. Positive experiences were linked to a sense of belonging and effective supervision, while negative experiences were tied to feeling unwelcomed and inconsistent learning opportunities. The study highlighted the personal impact of attending placements and identified the need for improved student support and preparation.
Conclusions
Based upon a national survey of midwifery student perspectives of MPE, placement satisfaction was generally high with effective supervision and a sense of belonging. However negative experiences included reports of unwelcoming environments with a need for culture change and interventional education approaches.
Details
- Title
- A qualitative analysis of Australian midwifery students' perspectives of Midwifery Practice Experience: Characteristics that enhance or diminish clinical education placements
- Authors
- L Kearney (Corresponding Author) - The University of QueenslandD Bloxsome - Edith Cowan UniversityS Hunter - Deakin UniversityA Brown - University of South AustraliaS Cooper - Edith Cowan UniversityF Bogossian - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health
- Publication details
- Women and Birth , Vol.38(2), pp.1-8
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101887
- ISSN
- 1878-1799; 1871-5192
- PMID
- 39908721
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Grant note
- The NPEC is funded by the National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991103622202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
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