Competency-based education: The essential basis of pre-service education for the professional midwifery workforce

Developing competence and confidence in midwifery-focus groups with Swedish midwives

“…Courses, conferences, collegial learning and supervising students were mentioned as competence-broadening activities. This is in accordance with the study by Fullerton et al, 28 who stated that it is clearly important for midwives to improve their confidence in several ways. Midwives, as well as midwifery students, need training and education to develop in their profession.…”

“…They thought that different personal life events and experiences could contribute to strengthening the feeling of self-efficacy, which could lead to increased confidence. Fullerton et al 28 describe competence as necessary and underlying knowledge. It incorporates a capacity for critical thinking, ethics and values.…”

Integrated work-based placements – shifting the paradigm

“…A range of studies highlight time as a common barrier to supporting students and to facilitating their learning in the workplace (Ellstrom, 2001;Flannagan et al, 2000) In addition, the need for considerable financial resourcing plus support and development for those delivering activities is essential (Spouse, 2001). It is critical in awards linked to professional registration to have a common definition and identity between stakeholders with collaborative networks supporting delivery of the curriculum (Tynjala, 2008;Fullerton et al, 2013). The absence of such networks has been found to act as a major barrier to supporting student learning due to the lack of both a clear focus and of negotiated goals (Lloyd et al, 2014).…”

Comparing the Professional Role and Tasks Approved in Curriculum with the Ongoing Role and Tasks of Midwives Employed in Tabriz Health Care Units

“…1,2 The United Nations' World's Midwifery Report notes that, although a number of countries promised and are showing developments in training skilled midwives, the desired standards have not yet been met. 3 Midwifery skills and education in developing countries is defined based on the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).…”

“…A skilled midwife is an essential link in all the care processes and has an important role in reducing *Corresponding Author: Reza Ghaffari, gafarir@gmail.com mortality and morbidity, preventing maternal and child complications, increasing levels of reproductive health and health in childbearing women, and, finally, improving family and community health. [3][4][5][6] In order to train a midwifery expert to fulfill the abovementioned roles appropriately, it is necessary that midwifery students experience high quality education that fits the health needs and social conditions of the country. 7,8 Given that health care is provided by midwives at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences as an integrated service, and covers the whole population, including pregnant women and neonates, children, adolescents, young, middle-aged, and elderly men and women, workers in these health units have to acquire the needed skills and abilities to perform multiple roles and tasks required by the population in need of care.…”