Midwifery education at a nursing college in Limpopo : clinical learning experiences of male nurses

Abstract

This research explored the clinical learning experiences of male nurses during midwifery training at a nursing college in Limpopo, South Africa. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive study design was followed. Ethical approval was obtained and participants agreed to voluntarily take part in the study. Newly qualified professional male nurses were purposively selected. Eight individual interviews were conducted to collect data until data saturation was reached. Transcribed interviews were analysed, using Tesch’s method of qualitative data analysis. Consensus regarding themes and subthemes was reached between the researcher and independent coder. Trustworthiness was achieved through the employment of the principles of credibility, conformability, dependability, transferability and authenticity. The findings revealed the clinical learning experiences of participants in the maternity wards, which is part of their midwifery education at the nursing college. The experiences of participants in the maternity ward were categorised according to ante-partum, intra-partum and post-partum care. Participants considered intra-partum clinical learning to be difficult. Recommendations include a planned supervision programme and the accompaniment of all learners, to assist in achieving the learning outcomes and improving communication between the nursing college and hospital operational managers in the maternity ward to address the needs of male learners during midwifery training.