Results for: Midwifery Clinical Training Survey

1) What type of midwife are you?

  
Percentage
Responses
CNM
20.5
32
CPM
21.2
33
CM (ACNM recognized)
0.0
0
LM (Licensed Direct Entry Midwife)
16.0
25
Direct Entry Midwife (unlicensed)
9.0
14
Naturopathic Physician that practices midwifery
0.0
0
RN who practices as direct entry midwife (not CNM)
0.6
1
Student Direct Entry Midwife
15.4
24
Student Nurse Midwife
0.0
0
Other
17.3
27
Total responses:
156

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2) Where do you practice?

  PercentageResponses
Hospital - urban
8.5
17
Hospital - rural
1.5
3
Freestanding Birth Center
17.6
35
Home
61.3
122
Clinic
6.5
13
Other
4.5
9

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3) How many births do you currently attend a year?

  
Percentage
Responses
less then 12 a year
14.7
23
between 12-20 a year
23.7
37
between 20-50 a year
31.4
49
between 50-100 a year
16.0
25
between 100-150 a year
5.8
9
between 150-200 a year
1.9
3
between 200-300 a year
1.3
2
between 300-400 a year
0.0
0
over 400 a year
0.0
0
Other
5.1
8
Total responses:
156


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4) When did you recieve your clinical training? 

  
Percentage
Responses
Student just starting attending births
4.5
7
Student just finishing training
11.5
18
Less then one year ago
3.8
6
Between 1 and 3 years ago
8.3
13
Between 3 and 5 years ago
11.5
18
Between 5 and 10 years ago
17.9
28
Between 10 and 15 years ago
17.3
27
Between 15 and 25 years ago
11.5
18
Over 25 years ago
9.6
15
Other
3.8
6
Total responses:
156


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5) Where did you receive your didactic (academic) part of your training?

  PercentageResponses
Nursing school then ACNM accreditated distance program
3.6
8
Nursing school then ACNM accreditated on-site program
7.7
17
ACNM accreditated integrated program with nursing degree
3.6
8
ACNM accreditated direct entry program
0.5
1
MEAC accreditated on-site program
8.2
18
MEAC accreditated distance program
13.2
29
Naturopathic School
0.5
1
Non-accredited direct entry on-site program, two or more years
5.9
13
Non-accredited direct entry distance program two or more years
7.7
17
Non-accredited direct entry distance program less than two years
3.6
8
Non-accredited direct entry on-site program less than two years
3.6
8
Integrated academics in high volume clinical site
4.1
9
Self study, workshops, conferences
29.1
64
Other
8.6
19


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6) How well do you feel your academics prepared you for attending births and clinical practice? 

1
Poor
2
Fair
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Excellent
Responses
Average Score
 
 
2 (1.28%)
12 (7.69%)
43 (27.56%)
65 (41.67%)
34 (21.79%)
156
3.75 / 5 (75.00%)  
   3.75 / 5 (75.00%) 

7) Where did you get the clinical part of your midwifery training? (Attending births not as a nurse or as doula)

  PercentageResponses
With one home birth midwife
11.9
31
With more than one home birth midwife
33.8
88
With one midwife working at freestanding birth center
5.8
15
With more than one midwife working at a freestanding birth center
16.9
44
Clinical Integration at one hospital
5.8
15
Clinical Integration at more than one hospital
7.7
20
Clinical Integration at freestanding birth center
5.4
14
El Paso Birth Center (either one)
4.2
11
Jamacian Midwifery Training Site
2.3
6
Other
6.2
16


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8) How well do you feel like the clinical training you received prepared you for independent midwifery practice?  

1
Poor
2
Fair
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Excellent
Responses
Average Score
 
 
0 (0.00%)
6 (3.85%)
41 (26.28%)
55 (35.26%)
54 (34.62%)
156
4.01 / 5 (80.20%)  
   4.01 / 5 (80.20%) 

9) How would you describe  the relationship you had with your preceptor/s (teaching midwives)?
If more than one preceptor pick the one that you had the most experience with

  PercentageResponses
Cordial and friendly
44.7
110
Very Professional
20.3
50
Intimate, Best Friends
14.2
35
Cool, distant
5.3
13
Constant communication problems
4.9
12
Adversarial
2.0
5
Other
8.5
21


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10) How well do you feel like your preceptor recognized your prior learning and/or life experiences?   

1
Poor
2
Fair
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Excellent
Responses
Average Score
 
 
4 (2.56%)
12 (7.69%)
35 (22.44%)
71 (45.51%)
34 (21.79%)
156
3.76 / 5 (75.20%)  
   3.76 / 5 (75.20%) 

11) Did your preceptor treat you...

  PercentageResponses
With respect, you felt valued
50.6
128
Like an inferior, you felt looked down upon
8.3
21
Like a servant or slave to do her bidding
4.7
12
Like a friend and confidant
21.3
54
Like a child, liked but not capable
4.7
12
Like an annoyance she had to tolerate
4.0
10
Other
6.3
16


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12) Did your clinical training involve a stage of doing "scut" work (unpleasant or humble tasks)?  

  
Percentage
Responses
Yes 57.1%89
No
42.9%67
Total responses:
156

13) If your clinical training involved doing  "scut" work  did you feel that..

  PercentageResponses
It was an appropriate stage of the learning process
66.7
82
It was unnecessary for the learning process
8.9
11
It was an abuse of authority
5.7
7
Other
18.7
23


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14) During your clinical training did your preceptor/s ask you to do tasks unrelated to midwifery such as personal errands, babysitting, or housecleaning? 

  
Percentage
Responses
Yes 12.2%19
No
87.8%137
Total responses:
156

15) How do you feel your preceptor was as a teacher?
(not reflecting on her practice,  just her teaching style) 

1
Poor
2
Fair
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Excellent
Responses
Average Score
 
 
6 (3.85%)
25 (16.03%)
38 (24.36%)
44 (28.21%)
43 (27.56%)
156
3.60 / 5 (72.00%)  
Chart
   3.60 / 5 (72.00%) 

16) Was your preceptor active in your academic training?  

  
Percentage
Responses
Yes 43.2%67
No
56.8%88
Total responses:
155

17) Did you have a written agreement about your clinical training with specific objectives and expectations?   

  
Percentage
Responses
Yes 49.4%77
No
50.6%79
Total responses:
156

18) If you had a written agreement how useful did you find it?  

1
Poor
2
Fair
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Excellent
Responses
Average Score
 
 
3 (3.75%)
14 (17.50%)
29 (36.25%)
27 (33.75%)
7 (8.75%)
80
3.26 / 5 (65.20%)  
Chart
   3.26 / 5 (65.20%) 

19) What were the challenges or problems (if any) you found in your clinical training?
Check all that apply (if none state so in comment)  

  PercentageResponses
Not enough births
14.9
49
Not wide enough variety in birth settings
7.3
24
Not enough experience with multicultural women
8.8
29
Not given enough hands on experience
8.5
28
Was pushed into situations before ready
3.0
10
Inadequate supervision
2.4
8
Poor follow up after births
10.0
33
Personality conflict with preceptor/s
7.0
23
Cultural/religious conflict with preceptor/s
1.8
6
Not enough exposure to alternatives like herbs or natural birth
6.7
22
Not enough medical training like IVs or suturing
14.0
46
Other
15.5
51


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20) What were some of the most helpful parts of your clinical training to your current practice?  

  PercentageResponses
Being trusted to work independently
23.6
108
Having someone experienced always available
22.1
101
Being pushed to stretch capabilities
18.3
84
Observing preceptor work
20.5
94
The relationship I had with my preceptor
12.7
58
Other
2.8
13


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21) The qualities I look most for in a preceptor are:

choose all that apply   

  PercentageResponses
Someone whom I have an excellent interpersonal relationship with
18.6
71
Someone who shares my same religious or cultural beliefs
6.6
25
Someone who is a very experienced midwife
32.0
122
Someone who has trained a lot of midwives
11.0
42
Anyone who will take me, I have few options in my area
5.2
20
Someone who will push and challenge me
21.5
82
Other
5.0
19


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22) Do you currently train midwives?
If you are a student or have never trained midwives please skip to question #29  

  
Percentage
Responses
Yes 52.6%82
No
47.4%74
Total responses:
156

23) How do  you teach student midwives?
 

  PercentageResponses
One-on-one until training is complete
40.0
44
One-on-one for short period of time
8.2
9
One preceptor, multiple students for short period of time
2.7
3
One preceptor, multiple students until training is complete
7.3
8
Multiple preceptors, one student for short period of time
15.5
17
Multiple preceptors, one student until training is complete
14.5
16
Other
11.8
13


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24) What is the average time a student remains with you for clinical training?  

  
Percentage
Responses
less than one month
7.8
8
one to three months
7.8
8
three months to six months
10.8
11
six months to a year
7.8
8
one to two years
27.5
28
two to three years
28.4
29
more than three years
9.8
10
Total responses:
102

25) If you use written guidelines, agreements, and skill check off lists were they.... 

  PercentageResponses
Provided by the student's educational programs
53.3
65
Ones you developed yourself
21.3
26
Adapted from a book
10.7
13
Adapted from another midwife
4.1
5
I do not use written guidelines
4.1
5
Other
6.6
8


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26) How are  you compensated  for training students?

choose all that apply  

  PercentageResponses
Small stipend from student's educational program
8.3
9
Generous stipend from student's educational program
0.9
1
Salary it part of my duties
10.1
11
The student pays me money directly
7.3
8
Work exchange, student works in my practice
45.0
49
Work exchange, student works for me in and out of my practice
1.8
2
I pay students assistant fees
16.5
18
Other
10.1
11


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27) What are qualities you look for in a midwifery student?

check all that apply 

  PercentageResponses
Strong academic background
16.2
37
From established educational program
12.7
29
Similar religious or cultural background
9.2
21
Compatible personality traits
24.9
57
Someone who has given birth
9.6
22
Someone with no small children at home
7.9
18
Someone you know personally very well
2.6
6
Other
17.0
39


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28) What are the most common problems you have seen with midwifery students?

check all that apply 

  PercentageResponses
Unreliable, tardy, poor follow through
15.7
42
Poor academic background
6.3
17
Constant childcare or family problems
17.2
46
Dresses inappropriatly for clients
7.5
20
Cultural or religious insensitivity
3.0
8
Too timid in clinical situations
12.7
34
Too cocky in clinical situations
16.8
45
Poor communication skills
8.6
23
Leave to start own practice before you think she is ready
5.6
15
Won't leave the nest, is too dependent on you.
2.2
6
Other
4.5
12


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29) Is there anything more about your experience regarding clinical training either as a student or preceptor that you would like to add?

(The last five responses are given)
 
- I have almost quite being a preceptor many times because of the ungratefulness of students. They often feel like you owe them a lot and that you just aren't given them enough. They also tend to gossip about their preceptor to others and are very critical.
- Preceptor: Students need to be matched with preceptors who want to do the teaching, not everyone. A preceptor needs to be patient, with clear expectations.
- i had a great initial experience with the home birth midwife i worked with. altho i was disappointed in the lack of time we were able to spend with academics. so i went to the clinic in taos, nm where i got quite a bit of practice but was being mentored by midwves who were not teachers. there are allways places to improve. now that i have my cpm, i am hoping to find a real solid mentor to usher me into private practice.
- I am glad I went to an El Paso birth center first, then homebirth apprenticeship, allowed me to have basic skills practiced before a slower paced practice where I can refine and go more in depth.
- I loved being an apprentice and I love apprenticing!!!


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