Learning from communication errors when transitioning from nursing to midwifery: a student midwife's reflection

摘要

During my first shift as a student midwife at a birth centre, I encountered two occasions where I realised how communication - both verbal and non-verbal - can adversely affect the birth experiences of women. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) (2012) states that women can be affected by poor experiences of communication and support, well into the postnatal period, with an associated link to higher incidences of postnatal depression. Having practised as a nurse for ten years prior to entering midwifery, I believed I had enough experience of communicating with people not to make errors. However, the following scenarios demonstrated to me that there is always scope for further improvement and learning. For this reason, I have chosen to reflect upon my shift using the Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle to structure my thinking process and systematically consider my experiences. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's code of conduct (NMC 2018).