Abstract
Midwifery graduates are placed in health facilities for community service during their first year of practice. The purpose of the study was to explore how midwifery graduates experienced their clinical practice during community service placement in Limpopo province. A qualitative study which is explorative and descriptive in nature was conducted in five selected hospitals. Population comprised of all midwifery graduates who have undergone a comprehensive nursing programme regulated by R425 of 19 February 1985, as amended; working in selected hospitals. Non-probability, purposive sampling method was used to select five graduates working in maternity unit of each selected hospital. Sample comprised of twenty-five participants. In-depth face to face interviews were used to collect data. Findings revealed that graduates experienced differences between theory and practice at different levels. Loss of students’ status, high level of responsibility and inadequate clinical learning opportunities made their transition difficult. In conclusion, graduates felt exposed to two different worlds of midwifery practice resulting in frustration and reality shock. Study recommends that midwifery training programme include opportunities to discuss realities of transition period, to enable graduates to deal with midwifery issues in a real and practical situation. Mentors should help graduates to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Structured support programmes should be offered to alley feelings of fear and insecurity resulting from increased levels of responsibility and accountability graduates are faced with.
Highlights
The health care system demands competent midwifery practitioners to provide quality midwifery services (Stone, 2016)
Study recommends that midwifery training programme include opportunities to discuss realities of transition period, to enable graduates to deal with midwifery issues in a real and practical situation
The findings emanated from the interviews conducted with twenty five midwifery graduates practicing in maternity units of the selected hospitals during their first year following their completion of training
Summary
The health care system demands competent midwifery practitioners to provide quality midwifery services (Stone, 2016). The main aim of the compulsory placement is that; newly qualified midwives be supported, orientated and mentored as they transit from student status to professional status On completion of this compulsory placement, the newly graduated midwives become registered as independent practitioners by the South African Nursing Council. According to Cummins, Denney-Wilson and Homer (2016), newly qualified midwives’ level of competence was threatened by high level of responsibility and accountability they were faced with, which left them unsecured. Graduates felt they were not capable of performing administrative tasks including supervision of students which impacted negatively on their self-esteem (Cummins et al, 2016). In a study conducted Power (2016), acknowledged the fact that they were unable to cope with the demands of the new role, and requested that they be supported during their transition period; as there was no structured support programme to facilitate effective transition from being students to professional gjhs.ccsenet.org
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