gms | German Medical Science

Background: The goal of midwifery academization is to enable midwives to make ethically sound, evidence-based decisions and to act autonomously in a multiprofessional system of care for the benefit of women, their children and families. Upon attainment of the bachelor’s degree, the professional title of “midwife” is also conferred (Hebammengesetz-HebG).

Goal: The continuation of the academic education of midwives in the midwifery-specific master’s program “Midwifery Science and Women’s Health” at the University of Tübingen aims at a further qualification of midwives, beyond their original role as practicing midwives. Further areas of competence are comprehensively deepened and expanded in theory and practice.

Methodology: The modules include physiological, psychological and social dimensions, system-relevant knowledge and orientation, aspects of personality development through further education and training, management skills and the ability to work and cooperate in multidisciplinary teams. The master’s program (3 semesters, 90 ECTS) includes the study areas of Management and Leadership, Advanced Midwifery Competencies, Women’s Health and Advanced Research Competencies. The course of study also includes an internship of six to eight weeks during which course-related content is tested in a professional context. An additional elective module enables the midwifery master’s student to become a practice supervisor.

Results: Dealing with role expectations, reflection on one’s own practice and the further development of the profession up to the development of superordinate midwifery theories are reflected and stimulated in the course of studies and form an important basis for the further development of one's own professional understanding as well as a prerequisite for successful interprofessional action.

Relevance: M.Sc. students are trained to deal with practice-related topics of midwifery in a research-oriented context. On the one hand, this practice-theory transfer is intended to place existing practical processes of midwifery in a theoretical, science-based context. On the other hand, the research also serves to further develop and optimize existing midwifery practice.

Conclusion: Graduates of the master’s program will be qualified to evaluate existing care practices as pioneers and to develop and implement new and innovative care concepts, e.g. as advanced practice midwives (APM) in Germany. In addition, master midwives can participate in university teaching and the training of junior staff and pursue further academic careers within the framework of doctoral and post-doctoral studies in order to advance the emerging academic field of midwifery. An effectiveness evaluation of the program will be possible with the completion of the first cohort at the end of 2023.

Ethics and conflicts of interest: This submission and its content did not require a vote from the ethics commission at the University of Tübingen. The research was financed by own resources. There are no conflicts of interest.