Interview with midwifery supervisor

Clinical midwifery supervisor at the Regional Hospital West Jutland, Dorthe Thagaard, gives an interview about the ward at the hospital in Herning where they receive international students of midwifery each year.

 

 

How do you receive international students at the ward?

It is important for us that we have prepared the Danish students and staff at the ward for the arrival of international students, as is the prior contact to the international students in order to plan the aims and objectives of their stay. Local Danish midwifery students work as tutors, meaning that they are helpful with information on the place, the hospital, travelling arrangements etc. If possible the tutors will meet the international students at the railway station and show them to the hospital and their place of residence. I book a room for the students in close proximity to the hospital and the other midwifery students.

The international students are allocated 1 or 2 midwifes with whom they work for the main part of their clinical placement. The students get a thorough introduction to the ward and after this they take part in the working practice with their allocated midwife.
I meet with the students at least every other week and we discuss the work experience they have had so far and the further plan for their stay. In case of any problems – workwise or personally – I usually (and luckily) get involved in finding solutions. 

What can international students expect to gain from being here?

The international students can first and foremost gain experience in how midwifery in Denmark, and quite locally in Herning, is organized and carried out. They will be able to build a close working and learning relationship with the midwives who will assist them to meet their aims and objectives for their stay, which vary depending on their educational requirements. This also means that individual educational needs may be met where possible. They will meet an interprofessional staff that is interested in their thoughts and views on midwifery and last but not least the experience has shown us, that the women the students care for generally are very positive and welcoming despite the language barriers that may exist.

 

Which experiences/knowledge can international students bring with them to their home countries from being here?

The Danish midwife is autonomous in the case of caring for families in normal pregnancy, labour and the post partum period. The international students can gain experience in and knowledge of this scope of practice taking part in antenatal clinics, work on the maternity ward and caring for women post partum in our patient hotels and on the postnatal ward.

In case of complicated pregnancy, labour or post natal period the student will gain experience and knowledge in the midwife’s role and the working relationship with the medical profession.
Other than that the international students will attend the monthly teaching session with the other student midwives where different subjects in relation to midwifery practice are discussed, often with external experts on the subjects taking part. At these sessions the students are expected to give a talk on their own midwifery training and midwifery in their home country.

The student may also have the opportunity to take part in our staff training sessions, where for instance emergency obstetric care is trained inter-professionally.

 

What does your ward gain from having international students?

The midwives in Herning benefit immensely from taking part in the clinical training of the international students. We gain an insight in midwifery – how it is organized and carried out differently in the different parts of the world and we get challenged on our own practice and knowledge of midwifery in Denmark having to explain and document evidence for our practice.

We get the opportunity to create an active and international educational environment for the benefit of our own students professionally and interprofessionally and for the staff on the maternity ward.

 

Which tasks can an international student expect to get here?
 

In the antenatal clinic this includes identifying strengths and needs of the pregnant women and their families, antenatal examinations, abdominal palpations, referrals to obstetricians or other relevant professionals, parentcraft classes ect.
On the maternity ward the student will be caring for women in normal labour. This may for instance include support and coaching of the women and their husbands through labour, evaluation of need of painrelief, abdominal palpation and vaginal examination, observation and action in case of complications to the normal labour, delivery of the baby and the placenta, examination and suturing of the perineum, examination of the newborn ect.

The student may also be involved in complicated labour, including twin delivery, breech, shoulder dystocia, ventousse deliveries, caesarian sections ect.

In Herning we also care for women that choose to give birth at home. The numbers are not great, but it may be possible for a student to attend a homebirth if there is one planned.

Most of the women choose to breastfeed their babies and the midwives have an active role in supporting this. The students will therefore gain knowledge and practical experience working with this concept of care.

 

What are the working hours for international students at this ward?

The students will follow 1 or 2 midwives which means that they will be working 8½ hour day-, evening- or nightshifts. They may also be on call for 24 hour with their midwife.
Generally the students planned “working week” averages 34 hours with direct patient contact but individual requirements and whishes are taken into consideration as are the aims and objectives of their clinical placement in Herning.