Developing decision making for students using interactive practice

Abstract

Decision making is one of the most important skills that midwifery students should acquire through their education. Various methods of teaching the theoretical perspective can be easily adopted in the classroom. However, the speed that decisions sometimes have to be made in the clinical situation may not always allow time for the student to practise these skills for real or give the opportunity to realize the consequence of them. This article identifies how a filmed scenario-based activity can provide a ‘real time’ skills rehearsal for third year student midwives within the confines of a safe environment. Interactive decision making increases the development of procedural knowledge within the student and may also reduce the period of time required to acquire skills of effective clinical decision making. It is anticipated that this format for providing education can be used effectively for bridging the transition period from student to newly qualified midwife.

‘ Asking the hard questions ’: Improving midwifery students’ confidence with domestic violence screening in pregnancy

“…Giving students protected time for skills rehearsal provides great benefits and is an opportunity for them to synthesize how the knowledge they have learned at university informs their clinical practice (Kitson-Reynolds, 2009). So often, students are focused primarily on the overwhelming task of learning how to 'do things' to women that they do not take time to consider how they are developing their skills in learning to 'be with' women.…”

“…Interactive learning is an exciting and energising method of teaching that can be used to effectively bridge the transition from student midwife to newly qualified midwife (Kitson-Reynolds, 2009).…”

Using root cause analysis to promote critical thinking in final year Bachelor of Midwifery students

“…Although scientific knowledge underpinning evidence-based midwifery practice is rapidly expanding there remains uncertainty regarding 'best practice' in many clinical situations (Scholes et al, 2012). In order to promote safe autonomous practice, midwives are required to possess and enact high levels of professional judgement, critical thinking and decision making skills (Lake and McInnes, 2012;Cioffi et al, 2005;Kitson-Reynolds, 2009). Critical thinking involves higher level thinking and reasoning skills that facilitate thinking in a controlled, purposeful, focussed and conscious way when making decisions (Simpson and Courtney, 2002).…”

“…Similarly, Kitson-Reynolds (2009) argued there is limited evidence measuring the effectiveness of simulation on fitness to practice in the complex world of midwifery practice.…”

Beyond the Lecture: Interactive Strategies in the Health Profession Education Curriculum

“…Third year students focused on improving their decision-making. As a side note, students often reported a higher level of appreciation for the goals of the activity after graduation than immediately following the activity (Kitson-Reynolds, 2009). Zavertnik, Huff, & Munro (2010) also utilized actors in a simulation with nursing students.…”