Journal article
The midwife-student mentor relationship: Creating the virtuous circle
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, Vol.35(5), pp.e512-e520
09/2022
PMID: 34702668
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Background
Good mentoring is important for students to support their adjustment to and learning in the clinical environment. The quality of the mentoring relationship is key for students but there is a lack of evidence explaining how a good mentor/mentee relationship establishes and develops over time.
Aim
To explore the developing relationship between mentors and mentees participating in a structured midwifery mentoring program in one Local Health District in Sydney, Australia.
Methods
A qualitative interpretive descriptive research design was utilised. Data were collected using 10 focus groups with midwife mentors (n = 31) and seven focus groups and four interviews with Bachelor of Midwifery student mentees (n = 24), over a 12-month period. Thematic analysis using an inductive approach was applied incorporating constant comparison to identify themes and sub-themes.
Findings
Three overarching themes and three sub-themes were identified. The first theme was ‘The great unknown’. Within the second theme ‘Building the relationship’ were three subthemes: trying to connect; becoming known; and an insider on your side. The final theme ‘the virtuous circle’ described the reciprocal relationship and benefits that developed between mentor and mentee.
Discussion
The mentor/mentee relationship took time to develop and went through a number of phases. A positive mentor/ mentee relationship flattened hierarchical differences, increased student confidence and capacity for learning, and reflected the midwifery continuity of care relationship between midwife and woman built on respect and partnership.
Conclusion
Developing a successful midwifery mentoring relationship takes persistence, reassurance, and mutual disclosure ultimately resulting in a recurring cycle of encouragement and support.
Details
- Title
- The midwife-student mentor relationship: Creating the virtuous circle
- Creators
- A. Sheehan - Western Sydney UniversityR. Elmir - Western Sydney UniversityA. Hammond - Western Sydney UniversityV. Schmied - Western Sydney UniversityS. Coulton - Western Sydney UniversityK. Sorensen - South Western Sydney Local Health DistrictF. Arundell - Western Sydney UniversityH. Keedle - Western Sydney UniversityH. Dahlen - Western Sydney UniversityE. Burns - Western Sydney University
- Publication Details
- Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, Vol.35(5), pp.e512-e520
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991013154166202368
- Copyright
- Crown Copyright © 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article