Pre-registration nursing and midwifery students are under considerable pressure to acquire the necessary information technology (IT) skills by the time they embark on a professional nursing career. There is a multitude of research findings detailing the use of computer-based learning materials, IT training initiatives and how such materials are…

Placements are an integral component of the medical, nursing, and allied health curriculum. Literature on problem-based learning indicates that curriculum change can impact student experience. However, outside of the nursing literature, there is little research on the impact of education reform on students' experiences of placements. This paper…

Although academic writing in higher education has been the focus of research efforts for more than two decades, the specific writing experiences, needs and difficulties of undergraduate nursing and midwifery students have remained largely under-researched. This article reports on a project that investigated the nature and dynamics of academic…

Applies and tests Foucault's theories about local centers of power and knowledge by rhetorically analyzing a Minnesota Midwifery Study Advisory Group. Illustrates how knowledge may be produced/suppressed and how a rhetor may become empowered by projecting negative traits upon the "other." Demonstrates how some traditional midwives…

A survey of 199 midwifery students in England identified two classes of stress: the organization/learning experience and home/family. Three primary sources were insufficient time for coursework, conflicts between study and home/family demands, and facing life and death situations in practice placements. (SK)

A nurse-midwife committed to the value of general nursing education as a prerequisite to midwifery responds to Lois Muzio's article expressing the opposite point of view. (JOW)

Reviews prenatal and postnatal methods of gestational age estimation and evaluates implementation of this information in research. Recommendations concerning the assignment of gestational age in the perinatal period and the use of age correction for preterm infants are offered. (Author/BC)

Using journal writing to develop critical-reflection skills in students preparing to be midwives fosters the spirit of inquiry and the discovery of knowledge useful to practice. (SK)

A study was conducted to measure the extent to which Finnish midwives accept the "mother myth," or the stereotypical beliefs of mothers who idealize motherhood. A set of 45 statements about motherhood was administered to 382 Finnish midwives who were given 30 minutes to read the statements and indicate the extent of their agreement on a…

The author compares and analyzes American and Taiwanese maternity care systems, discussing the history of midwifery in Taiwan; the process by which a midwife establishes her practice; and her role in childbirth, abortion, adoption, and other services. (Author/DS)

Responses from 45% of 696 British midwives and interviews with 17 indicated that they identify their continuing education needs most frequently through interaction with colleagues. Their greatest needs were for professional issues and management topics; there is a demand for part-time and distance learning. (SK)

Critical incident analysis, combining actual experiences with structured reflection, can facilitate learning from clinical practice and develop interpersonal skills and self-awareness. (SK)

Nursing education should play an important role in developing culturally sensitive health care. Nurses and midwives should be trained in assessing health needs of different cultural groups and developing appropriate care. (SK)

At the University of Dundee (Scotland), distance learning is used to provide inservice opportunities for nurses and midwives. The modular courses feature problem-based and work-based learning, text-based study guides, and strategies to provide continuous learner support. (SK)