gms | German Medical Science

Background: In the context of midwifery studies, the learning process and the accompanying competence development can bring challenges for midwives-to-be. In addition to the complexity of caring for women* and their families, the working environment within the care team and other structural conditions during practical placements may trigger irritations and lead to stress and excessive demands. In addition, the requirement to take responsibility for the individual learning process during the study program poses another potential challenge. Clinical supervision offers students an effective analytical method to address and develop their own ideas for overcoming potential difficulties by further developing reflection and communication skills. The Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences in Krefeld has implemented clinical supervision in the bachelor’s degree midwifery program.

Aim: The effectiveness of clinical supervision on the development of social and personal competencies in midwifery students will be assessed. In addition, the midwifery students will be interviewed about the organisational realisation and the individual benefit on their learning process.

Method: At the end of the semester 23/24, midwifery students of two cohorts (52 potential participants) will be asked to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire will contain questions about the satisfaction with the organisation of clinical supervision meetings. Moreover, personal goals and possible effects of clinical supervision on their role as student midwife, their care for women* and families as well as the collaboration within the team and the practical training place.

Expected results: Clinical supervision might be of added value for the midwifery students and might promote their problem-solving skills and their learning process.

Relevance: Offering clinical supervision is expected to increase the quality of academic midwifery education. Anchoring supervision in the curriculum also promotes the reciprocal relationship between theory and practice. In addition, it has the potential to positively affect the students’ satisfaction with the study program and counteract drop-out. Using the evaluation, the existing clinical supervision offer will be further developed.

Recommendations/conclusions: Previous feedback from midwifery students on the clinical supervision indicates personal benefit. Final conclusions will be derived after completion of the evaluation.

Ethics and conflicts of interest: No ethical approval was sought for the evaluation. The ethical principles of research are based on the Code of Ethics of the German Sociological Association (DGS) and the Helsinki Declaration. The midwifery students have already been informed and will be asked for their consent for voluntary participation before the evaluation. The evaluation will be anonymous. The research was financed by own resources. There are no conflicts of interest.