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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Student-led unit for midwifery students in Belgium: Sharing best practices
1
Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Professional Bachelor Midwifery, Antwerpen, Belgium
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A100
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
A student-led unit offers an integrated setting where education and practice merge, allowing students to develop professional autonomy in a highly contextualized care environment. Within this setting, students are challenged to refine their clinical reasoning skills while assuming responsibility for the care provided in the delivery room and maternity unit. Upon completing intensive practical experience, students should be able to design and implement care plans. Throughout the entire period, alignment with peers, midwives and physicians ensures the continuity and safety of patient care.
DISCUSSION:
Before entering this student-led unit, students get specific information of unit protocols and procedures. These sessions foster early peer connections and cultivate a sense of team spirit. Due to the authentic nature of these practice, structured and intensive supervision is critical. This is achieved through a close collaboration between the educational institution and clinical ward, including the presence of a dedicated clinical instructor and trained mentors on-site each day. This instructor acts as a key liaison for both students and healthcare professionals.
EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Student-led practice models in healthcare, including midwifery, provide unique learning environments where students develop both clinical competence and essential leadership skills. By positioning students in active, decision-making roles within clinical environments, these models enhance readiness for professional practice and contribute to addressing systemic gaps in regular practice (Lising et al., 2024).
KEY MESSAGE:
Offering an authentic clinical learning experience by student-led unit placement significantly boosts students self-confidence and accelerates their readiness for autonomous midwifery practice. Experience has already been gained in setting up, running, and supervising such units and valuable insights are available to share. Lising, D., Copley, J., Hill, A., Martyniuk, J., Patterson, F., Quinlan, T., & Parker, K. (2024). Exploring the "led" in health professional student-led experiences: a scoping review. Advances in Health Sciences Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-024-10355-x Education - competency development 2
A student-led unit offers an integrated setting where education and practice merge, allowing students to develop professional autonomy in a highly contextualized care environment. Within this setting, students are challenged to refine their clinical reasoning skills while assuming responsibility for the care provided in the delivery room and maternity unit. Upon completing intensive practical experience, students should be able to design and implement care plans. Throughout the entire period, alignment with peers, midwives and physicians ensures the continuity and safety of patient care.
DISCUSSION:
Before entering this student-led unit, students get specific information of unit protocols and procedures. These sessions foster early peer connections and cultivate a sense of team spirit. Due to the authentic nature of these practice, structured and intensive supervision is critical. This is achieved through a close collaboration between the educational institution and clinical ward, including the presence of a dedicated clinical instructor and trained mentors on-site each day. This instructor acts as a key liaison for both students and healthcare professionals.
EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Student-led practice models in healthcare, including midwifery, provide unique learning environments where students develop both clinical competence and essential leadership skills. By positioning students in active, decision-making roles within clinical environments, these models enhance readiness for professional practice and contribute to addressing systemic gaps in regular practice (Lising et al., 2024).
KEY MESSAGE:
Offering an authentic clinical learning experience by student-led unit placement significantly boosts students self-confidence and accelerates their readiness for autonomous midwifery practice. Experience has already been gained in setting up, running, and supervising such units and valuable insights are available to share. Lising, D., Copley, J., Hill, A., Martyniuk, J., Patterson, F., Quinlan, T., & Parker, K. (2024). Exploring the "led" in health professional student-led experiences: a scoping review. Advances in Health Sciences Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-024-10355-x Education - competency development 2
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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