Making Magic With Interprofessional Education: A 3-Year Experience

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the past 5 years, the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have urged collaborative practice and the development of interprofessional education (IPE) teams. Many barriers exist in establishing true interdisciplinary teams in training. METHODS: Over 3 years, all OB/GYN interns completed a rotation with the faculty CNM practice 1 day per week. The rotation included didactics, simulation, and clinical teaching with an emphasis on normal birth as well as an introduction to midwifery scope of practice and philosophy of care. Interns completed a validated attitude survey before and after the rotation, formative feedback evaluations after each shift, and a clinical reflection. RESULTS: Of all participating interns (n=30), 50% had never previously worked with a midwife. Topics rated most helpful included: nonpharmacologic pain control, normal labor and birth, and birth positions. Based on the attitude survey (4-point Likert scale), the most significant changes in perception at completion included: scope of care (Δ 0.5), nonmedical approach to obstetrics (Δ 0.6), and understanding credentials in midwifery (Δ 0.7). Review of the reflections revealed three main qualitative themes learned during the rotation: therapeutic use of self, birth experience, and relationship with midwives. DISCUSSION: An interprofessional education with faculty CNMs provided interns with an introduction to midwifery care and an opportunity to establish positive relationships with future collaborators.