Abstract
Background
Midwifery students’ experiences with preceptors in the clinical environment plays
an integral role in developing the confidence and competence of students. As up to
50% of the midwifery program is taught in the clinical environment, an analysis of
the preceptorship role in the context of midwifery student confidence and competence
may be important to inform future practice and policy.
Aim
To discover, whilst on clinical placement, what is required by preceptors to suitably
equip midwifery students to develop confidence and competence in the clinical environment.
Methods
A search of the literature was undertaken using health and midwifery related electronic
databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Intermid, SCOPUS and Web of Science. Grey literature,
and reference lists from studies were also part of the thorough search process.
Findings
After critical reading of the 15 included studies, there were a number of themes identified
as the preceptor qualities that contributed to student confidence and competence.
Those themes include ‘belongingness’, ‘hands on experience/skill development’, ‘students’
development of professional identity’ and ‘preceptor characteristics that impact student
learning’.
Discussion
Student confidence and competence can be dependent on the preceptor who supports them.
There are preceptors who enable students to flourish in their confidence and competence,
and there also appears to be preceptors who do not possess these qualities, which
requires further enquiry.
Conclusion
As the evidence appears to find that trained preceptors are optimal for student confidence
and competence, further enquiry is warranted to inform policy and practice around
the concept of preceptorship training for midwives.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 02, 2021
Accepted:
June 28,
2021
Received in revised form:
June 27,
2021
Received:
April 21,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
