Hospital-based assistant in Midwifery role for undergraduate midwifery students: A survey exploration.
Employment
Hospital
Maternity
Midwifery
Skill mix
Student
Workforce
Journal
Midwifery
ISSN: 1532-3099
Titre abrégé: Midwifery
Pays: Scotland
ID NLM: 8510930
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jul 2022
Jul 2022
Historique:
received:
22
03
2021
revised:
20
01
2022
accepted:
20
03
2022
pubmed:
8
5
2022
medline:
26
5
2022
entrez:
7
5
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Little is known about the experiences of undergraduate midwifery students employed as Assistants in Midwifery (AIM) in Australia. Assistants in Nursing have been embedded in the Australian health system for many years, but the AIM role is relatively new. Undergraduate Bachelor of Midwifery students, in second or third year, can gain employment as an AIM at hospital maternity units. Little is known about the scope of practice for these roles and the experiences of AIM. This study aimed to explore the experiences and scope of practice of AIM in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, over the last five years. A Qualtrics online survey enabled collection of quantitative and qualitative data from 128 respondents in late 2019. This was accompanied with the analysis of position descriptions for all AIM jobs advertised between September 2019 and February 2020. Analysis of AIM position descriptions reflected nursing language rather than midwifery. Survey responses demonstrated ambiguity about the AIM scope of practice and the appropriate level of supervision required to perform the role. Qualitative data revealed the many benefits of the role for midwifery students. Opportunities to participate in midwifery assistant work enhances student confidence and improves job readiness. However, a clearly defined scope of practice is one of the most important components of any employment model for undergraduate students. Clarification of the role and scope of practice of the AIM role is long overdue. There is ongoing need for advocacy to ensure that students working as AIM are employed to carry out midwifery activities and are supervised by midwives. This project provides insight into the advantages and disadvantages of working as an AIM whilst studying for a Bachelor of Midwifery degree. While the AIM position reaps many rewards for students, appropriate supervision in the workplace requires availability of adequate numbers of employed registered midwives.
Sections du résumé
PROBLEM
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the experiences of undergraduate midwifery students employed as Assistants in Midwifery (AIM) in Australia.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Assistants in Nursing have been embedded in the Australian health system for many years, but the AIM role is relatively new. Undergraduate Bachelor of Midwifery students, in second or third year, can gain employment as an AIM at hospital maternity units. Little is known about the scope of practice for these roles and the experiences of AIM.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the experiences and scope of practice of AIM in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, over the last five years.
METHODS
METHODS
A Qualtrics online survey enabled collection of quantitative and qualitative data from 128 respondents in late 2019. This was accompanied with the analysis of position descriptions for all AIM jobs advertised between September 2019 and February 2020.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
Analysis of AIM position descriptions reflected nursing language rather than midwifery. Survey responses demonstrated ambiguity about the AIM scope of practice and the appropriate level of supervision required to perform the role. Qualitative data revealed the many benefits of the role for midwifery students.
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
Opportunities to participate in midwifery assistant work enhances student confidence and improves job readiness. However, a clearly defined scope of practice is one of the most important components of any employment model for undergraduate students. Clarification of the role and scope of practice of the AIM role is long overdue. There is ongoing need for advocacy to ensure that students working as AIM are employed to carry out midwifery activities and are supervised by midwives.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This project provides insight into the advantages and disadvantages of working as an AIM whilst studying for a Bachelor of Midwifery degree. While the AIM position reaps many rewards for students, appropriate supervision in the workplace requires availability of adequate numbers of employed registered midwives.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35525021
pii: S0266-6138(22)00071-7
doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2022.103319
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
103319Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest None Declared. COI declarations included.