On starting their programme of study, student midwives are generally highly motivated and optimistic about their journey into their chosen profession. However, there is evidence to suggest the personal, professional, academic and emotional stressors are too much for some students, which leads to attrition, estimated to be 20% in 2012 (Centre for Workforce Intelligence, 2012). With the existing shortfall in numbers of practising midwives (National Audit Office, 2013) and an imminent ‘retirement time bomb’ (Royal College of Midwives (RCM), 2015), it is clear that additional strategies must be put in place to support student midwives to successfully complete their studies and then join the existing workforce (Power, 2015).
Universities have support systems in place for all students, irrespective of their programme of study, including student-led societies. On beginning her programme of study at the University of Northampton, student midwife Ilaria Grzelak realised ‘traditional’ student societies would not meet the specific needs of student midwives, as their course not only has academic but also professional body demands that require student midwives to undertake clinical placements as well as attend university. She decided a midwifery-specific society was needed. Her observations concurred with literature which suggests peer support is a key factor in student midwives' achievement and successful completion of their programme of study (McIntosh et al, 2013).
In relation to pre-registration midwifery education, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2009: 16) states that ‘a minimum of 50 per cent of the available curriculum hours must be spent in clinical practice’. While this practice element of the programme is common in many health care pre-registration courses, it does not reflect the programme structure of the majority of ‘traditional’ pre-registration programmes of study. Student midwives sometimes spend extended periods of time away from the university setting and, while it is acknowledged that they receive support in practice from mentors and fellow students, this can be unpredictable or even absent and so students can feel isolated. Ilaria identified the potential for a midwifery society to support her peers; this is her story.
Ilaria's story
My initial idea for creating a midwifery society came after visiting the freshers' fayre. I soon realised that joining any of the existing societies while being in placement or lectures full-time was not realistic if I wanted to be an active member. After our first block of clinical practice—which resulted in me not seeing some members of the cohort for almost 2 months—I felt we would benefit from a society that could bring us together for social events to reconnect, as well as giving us more freedom to explore personal interests by hosting and subsidising tickets to study days and conferences. To help me get a better idea of the role of midwifery societies, I attended an RCM webinar on ‘setting up a society’ where I gleaned some valuable information about what other student midwives had done at their universities.
‘ Student-led midwifery societies can positively contribute to the student experience and, as a consequence, lower attrition rates… which should ultimately have a positive impact on the experiences of women and families’
Implementation
I asked the other course representatives from the second and third years to be a part of the committee to bridge the gap between clinical placement providers, as students on our programme of study have clinical placements in three local Trusts. We then set up a meeting with our students' union. In order to become a bona fide society we had to:
Although the midwifery society started with the intention of creating social and academic opportunities, it quickly became more than that. With the help of one of our senior lecturers, we set up a ‘buddy scheme’ whereby each student midwife was assigned a ‘buddy’ from the year above to offer support and encouragement. Feedback for this scheme has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped to create cohesion between the year groups. We also decided to arrange some fundraising events and chose as our beneficiary Maternity Worldwide, which supports students in less-developed countries to complete their midwifery training.
Since its inception, the society has funded conference tickets, paid travel expenses for students to attend specialist work experience, hosted a study day, and screened the Microbirth film (popcorn included!). We have also been able to use social media, not only to promote our own events but also other local or free conferences our students may be interested in. We advertise links to free educational materials and are proud members of the MIDIRS midwifery society network.
How to get started
The following tips are from the RCM (2016) guidance for setting up a midwifery society:
The benefits for student midwives
Hunter and Warren's (2013) investigation into what constitutes resilience in registered midwives had implications for student midwives, as recommendations included providing opportunities for students to discuss their experiences in practice and consider strategies to enhance their emotional awareness of self and others. Reflec tion was recognised as key to developing resilience, affording students the oppor tunity to consider the emotional imp li cations of clinical practice as well as its practicalities. While universities recognise the unique needs of this student body and have strategies in place to support their emotional wellbeing and bridge the gap between theoretical and clinical learning, student-led midwifery societies can also positively contribute to the student experience and, as a consequence, lower attrition rates. Implications for practice are that greater numbers of student midwives will qualify and join the workforce, which should ultimately have a positive impact on the experiences of women and their families.
Ilaria recognised the benefits of peer support for midwifery students and demonstrated motivation and determination to set up and run the midwifery society at the University of Northampton. With 92 universities in the UK offering pre-registration midwifery programmes, Ilaria will not be alone in demonstrating such positive personal traits. Proactive student midwives are the future of maternity services—and the future is looking bright!