Block learning: Evaluation of a new teaching approach for nursing and midwifery education.

Aim: The aim is to present outcome and engagement data from the initial years of the implementation of a new teaching approach in entry to practice nursing and midwifery education.

Background: The Block Model (TBM) is a teaching approach that involves studying one unit of study at a time over a four-week period, as opposed to the traditional semester model. This paper presents data revealing the impact of TBM on student engagement and overall experience in entry to practice Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery programs.

Continuity of care experiences: A national cross-sectional survey exploring the views and experiences of Australian students and academics.

Background: Continuity of Care Experiences (CoCEs) are a component of all entry-to-practice midwifery programs in Australia and facilitate an understanding of the central midwifery philosophy of woman-centred care and continuity of the therapeutic relationship. The aim of this research was to explore how CoCEs are viewed and experienced by students and academics across Australia.

Methods: Students enrolled in Australian midwifery programs and academics who teach into these programs were invited to participate in a cross sectional, web-based survey.

Informing the development midwifery standards for practice: A literature review for policy development.

Aim: To critically appraise and synthesise the literature regarding the role and scope of midwifery practice, specifically to inform the evidence based development of standards for practice for all midwives in Australia.

Design: A structured scoping review of the literature DATA SOURCES: CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete and Cochrane Libraries databases, online and grey literature databases REVIEW METHODS: Comprehensive searches of databases used key words and controlled vocabulary for each database to search for publications 2006-2016. Studies were not restricted by research method.

Communicating out loud: Midwifery students' experiences of a simulation exercise for neonatal resuscitation.

Midwifery students feel unprepared to deal with commonly encountered emergencies, such as neonatal resuscitation. Clinical simulation of emergencies may provide a safe forum for students to develop necessary skills. A simulation exercise, for neonatal resuscitation, was developed and evaluated using qualitative methods.

Development and evaluation of a simulation exercise to prepare midwifery students for neonatal resuscitation.

Background: Simulation provides opportunities for midwifery students to enhance their performance in emergency situations. Neonatal resuscitation is one such emergency and its management is a major concern for midwifery students.

Objectives: This project aimed to develop and evaluate a simulation exercise, for neonatal resuscitation, for 3rd year midwifery students.

Midwives' experiences of the factors that facilitate normal birth among low risk women at a public hospital in Australia.

Background: normal birth has major advantages for mothers and infants. Nonetheless, in the developed world, rates of normal birth have declined significantly over the past 20 years, and many women currently have caesarean section births for unclear reasons. Midwives are interested in ameliorating this trend and aim to facilitate women to have meaningful birth experiences and to achieve the best possible birth.

Final year students' learning experiences of the Bachelor of Midwifery course.

Aim: the aim of the study was to explore the concerns of 3rd year Bachelor of Midwifery students.

Background: earlier research indicates that midwifery students experience a number of conflicting learning demands and expectations, during their student years. These difficulties can lead to anxiety and a lack of confidence, which have implications for student integration and socialisation into the profession.

Final year students' experiences of the Bachelor of Midwifery course.

Aim: : the aim of the study was to explore the experiences of final year Bachelor of Midwifery students.

Background: earlier research indicates that midwifery students experience a number of difficulties and concerns during their studentship. These difficulties can lead to a lack of confidence and poorer integration and socialisation into the profession.

Exploring the 'follow-through experience': a statewide survey of midwifery students and academics conducted in Victoria, Australia.

Objective: Follow-through experiences (which enable midwifery students to experience continuity of care with individual women through pregnancy, labour and birth and the postnatal period) are a component of midwifery education programmes in Australia and the United Kingdom. Current accreditation standards in Australia require midwifery students to have a total of 20 continuity of care experiences with an average of 20 hours per woman over the duration of their course. There has been limited research regarding students' and academics' experiences of follow-through experiences; and there has been debate regarding the appropriate number of follow-through experiences in midwifery curricula.

Concerns among first year midwifery students: towards addressing attrition rates.

Since 2000, there has been a shift to undergraduate midwifery education in Australia. Midwifery students are generally highly motivated, however attrition rates remain high among first-year students. This study was undertaken in one Australian University against a background of high course demand and high student attrition.

Undertaking midwifery studies: commencing students' views.

Objective: to explore the motivations and beliefs of commencing midwifery students against a background of high course demand and high student attrition.

Design: a qualitative analysis of student reflective essays.

Setting: Melbourne, Australia.

Out of the ashes: the new bachelor of midwifery curriculum at Victoria University.

In the past decade, midwifery education has changed significantly in Australia. Previously, a nursing qualification (division 1) was required for entry into midwifery programs and on completion, graduands obtained a postgraduate diploma of midwifery. More recently, bachelor of midwifery programs have also been offered in Australia and currently, a considerable percentage of midwives are prepared for practice in this way.