Professional identity: Students' learning from the attributes and behaviours of midwives on clinical placement

Midwifery practice experience is an important component of education to develop an understanding of professional identity in midwifery students. The responsibility of supporting student development in the clinical setting is predominantly undertaken by clinical midwives. There is minimal literature relating to the professional identity development of midwifery students.

To explore midwifery student experiences of the positive attributes of clinical midwives who supported the professional identity development of midwifery students in the clinical practice setting.

An Appreciative Inquiry approach guided this study. The setting was a university in Sydney, Australia. Participants comprised thirteen students from a postgraduate midwifery course. Data were collected via individual interviews and analysed thematically. Students had two to six months of placement in the clinical setting.

Data analysis identified three themes, Putting the woman at the centre of care; Supporting a woman-centred environment and Focusing on student success.

Findings from this study revealed that extended time spent with a midwife enabled the student to observe and reflect on the nuances of midwifery practice that are not overtly shared with students. Students were able to observe a midwife's tacit way of being. This paper reveals the positive attributes and behaviours of midwives whose practice the students want to emulate.

Midwifery students' exposure to positive clinical midwife role models on clinical placement enables them to develop a greater understanding of professional identity.