Abstract
Background
Learning undertaken through clinical placements provides up to 50% of the educational
experience for students in pre-registration midwifery courses. However little is known
about of the impact various models of clinical placement have on the learning experiences
of undergraduate midwifery students. Two clinical placement models have been employed
for undergraduate midwifery students at Monash University, including the block placement
model and the continuous two days per week model.
Objective
This project sought to explore the learning experiences of students in these two models
of placement.
Method
Focus groups were held on two campuses with a total of 17 students from different
cohorts and programs.
Discussion
No one type of placement was favoured over another both had benefits and disadvantages.
Further, this study found that regardless of program and clinical placement model
the major learning impact for students was related to the midwife they worked with
each day on placement rather than to the model.
Conclusion
No one type of placement was favoured over another both had benefits and disadvantages.
Further, this study found that regardless of program and clinical placement model
the major learning impact for students was related to the midwife they worked with
each day on placement rather than to the model.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 23, 2012
Accepted:
June 25,
2012
Received in revised form:
May 30,
2012
Received:
December 15,
2011
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2012 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
