How midwifery students experience learning conditions in labor wards

Midwives are responsible for the well-being of women and babies during labor and birth. Learning midwifery is complex and challenging, and how students are welcomed into the labor wards affects learning. This study aimed to identify and explain the conditions that affected midwifery students’ learning in labor wards and their consequences. We used classical grounded theory to analyze longitudinal data from 15 individual and three focus group interviews of 10 postgraduate midwifery students in Norway. The key conditions identified that affect the learning outcomes of midwifery students were related to the students’ relationships with midwives, the students themselves and the learning arena. Tailored assignments from midwives enhanced students’ learning and apprehensive relationships with midwives inhibited learning. Midwives played a key role in facilitating students’ learning by tailoring their learning opportunities and debriefing after challenging incidents and thus smoothed how students’ emotions affect their self-esteem and learning process.