The lived experience of midwives’ transitioning from a clinical role into teaching in higher education in one jurisdiction of Australia: A pilot study
Nurse education in practice, Vol.79, 104071
07/2024
Aim
The aim of this pilot study was to explore clinician’s experience of transitioning from midwifery clinical practice into university in an academic teaching role within one jurisdiction in Australia.
Background
There is a dire shortage of midwifery academics globally. In Australia the shortage is symbiotic with the persistent deficit in the midwifery clinical workforce, which is the predominant recruitment pool for universities. The midwifery workforce cannot be replenished without sufficient academics to provide education.
Design
Phenomenology was selected as the most appropriate research approach for the study seeking to illuminate the lived experiences of clinicians as they transition into their new role as academics.
Methods
Seven participants were recruited purposively from one jurisdiction in Australia between November 2022 and March 2023. Qualitative conversational interviews were performed facilitating each participant to share their narrative. Participants were then able to direct the conversation to share their lived experience of the transition from a midwifery clinician in practice to a midwifery academic in a university. Demographic details were collected for context.
Results
Thematic analysis was used following Giorgi’s four stage phenomenological process. Four themes were identified from commonalities between the participants, ‘Being a drifter”, ‘Keeping a foot in both camps to maintain clinical credibility’, ‘In at the deep end: Not prepared for the reality of academia’ and ‘Best of both worlds’.
Conclusions
The lived experiences of the participants in this study, as they transitioned from clinical midwifery practice to academia can be related to the Theory of Transition where participants navigate: Preparation, Encounter, Adjustment and Stabilisation. A new role in higher education requires adjustment to the reality of working in academia. Midwives who had experiences of being a casual staff member felt they had the best of both worlds, as they gained an insight into the role of an academic whilst remaining in clinical practice. However, many reported that mentorship would have been beneficial to facilitate stabilisation.
- The lived experience of midwives’ transitioning from a clinical role into teaching in higher education in one jurisdiction of Australia: A pilot study
- Michelle Gray - Edith Cowan UniversityAnnie De Leo - Edith Cowan UniversityMelanie Baker - Edith Cowan UniversityElaine Jefford - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Nurse education in practice, Vol.79, 104071
- Elsevier Ltd
- 991013209890602368
- Crown Copyright © 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Faculty of Health; Allied Health and Midwifery
- English
- Journal article