Is the incorporation of the newborn examination in the pre-registration curriculum acceptable in clinical practice? A qualitative study.

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative study were to describe the experiences of currently practicing newborn examiner midwives who had accessed their training post registration; explore their views on the inclusion of newborn examination in the pre-registration curriculum and invite them to identify strategies to achieve practical implementation of the inclusion of the newborn examination in pre-registration in the practice setting. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using Thematic Analysis with an inductive approach. Three main themes were identified; experiences of the role, views of the newborn examination being incorporated into the pre-registration midwifery curriculum and practical considerations. The findings from this study show that currently practicing newborn examiner midwives accept the need for inclusion of the newborn examination in pre-registration midwifery education in order to sustain the best service for mothers and babies. The findings also indicate a need for ongoing interprofessional learning, support and investment to maximise efficiency of the service.