Abstract
Objective
The purposes of this study was to explore the meaning of undergraduate midwifery students' experience through the clinical practice.
Methods
The research design was a descriptive phenomenological approach with semi-structured interview. The Colaizzi's method was used for data analysis. The sample consisted of six elected midwifery program students in their senior year of a 4 year baccalaureate.
Results
The major findings of this study consisted of four thematic categories. In the first category; "Worry about unexperienced delivery care", subjects were worried about the clinical practice because they didn't have a clear image of delivery. Following the procedural manual was best for them to prepare for clinical practice. In category II; "Challenge to the first midwifery practice", they reacted to the tension of early stage of clinical practice with anxiety and strain. They gradually adjusted to their surroundings on the third and fifth cases of delivery care and could feel hands and reflect on their clinical practices. Although students were distracted by different types of delivery process in each instance, they were rewarded by appreciative words from their clients. In category III; "Professional prospects", encountering an ideal midwife brought them hope, seeing young midwives who work vigorously also brought them encouragement and raised concerns about their own lack of skills. They recognized the importance of trusting relationship in the continuous care and developed observation skills toward women who faced delivery. They found their professional growth by taking care women carefully, safely, and persistently. In the last category; "Challenge to curriculum of midwifery clinical practice", they had to take the clinical practice within a very tight schedule in their senior year of a 4 year baccalaureate. It took some time to adjust to a new institution, as they had to have clinical practice in several institutions. It was hard for them to achieve the objectives of clinical practice during the specified period because of the decrease in the number of deliveries. They expressed their anxieties about becoming midwives with unsatisfied feeling after clinical practice.
Conclusions
The undergraduate midwifery students' perception and personal growth regarding clinical practice clearly varied a great deal from the first delivery care experience to the last one. The implication arising from this study for undergraduate midwifery program is that it is necessary to become professionally fulfilled by developing observation and coping skills to detect abnormal conditions at the earliest stage, and improve achievement objectives and teaching methods to meet each example of delivery care at each practical stage.
