Engaging Student Midwives: An Investment in the Profession and Midwives’ Associations
Midwifery is rooted in care, compassion and connection. To ensure that the profession continues to progress and evolve, it vital that midwifery associations actively engage student midwives —helping them build a strong sense of professional identity, belonging, and confidence in their role. Engaging student midwives can strengthen the profession and nurture the next generation of leaders.
At the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), our membership includes midwives, maternity support workers, and student midwives. We take great pride in supporting students as a distinct and valued part of our community, recognising the benefits of their involvement for individuals, associations, and the profession as a whole. Ultimately, this strengthens the care we provide to women and families.
This blog marks the first in a series from the RCM, where we will explore the importance of engaging student midwives, the challenges they face, and the role midwifery associations can play in supporting them. In this introduction, we explore the benefits of engaging student midwives and offer practical tips on how midwifery associations can achieve this.
Why engage Student Midwives?
Encourage a Sense of Belonging and Generate Enthusiasm
Belonging to a midwifery association from the beginning of a student’s career can instil a passion for the profession which can last a lifetime. It can help to improve confidence and overall wellbeing during their education. Welcoming and being part of a professional community can help students feel valued and supported.
Promoting Advocacy, Activism and Professionalism
Through engagement with midwifery associations, student midwives can learn about key issues affecting the profession, such as maternity care policies, global health initiatives, or workforce challenges. This knowledge can empower them to become advocates for midwifery and maternal health.
Expanding Career Awareness
Most midwifery education focuses on clinical practice, but midwives have a wide range of career pathways, including education, research, policy, and leadership roles. Engaging with a midwifery association exposes student midwives to these diverse opportunities, helping them explore different career options and develop skills beyond clinical work.
Fostering Leadership Skills
Involving student midwives gives additional opportunities to development their leadership, whether through organising events, participating in discussions and contributing to initiatives. Students can gain valuable experience that prepares them for future roles.
Fresh Perspectives
Student midwives bring new idea and perspectives. They are often up to date with latest research and education methods and their insights can help associations stay relevant and adapt to changing trends.
Building a Stronger Future
Student midwives represent the future of the profession and the midwifery association. Involving them early on can help shape their understanding of professional standards, and advocacy. Engaged students are more likely to stay involved in their professional association throughout their careers, contributing to the long-term strength and sustainability of the profession.
Tips for Engaging Student Midwives
- Create a student membership category: Offering a discounted or free membership for students can encourage them to join in. This membership can include benefits such as access to events, learning resources and networking opportunities.
- Establish a student committee: A dedicated student committee such as the Student Midwife Forum in the RCM provides a platform for students to voice their ideas and concerns. They also organise events and start initiatives tailored to their needs.
- Encourage peer networking: Facilitating opportunities for student midwives to connect with each other can build a sense of community. Events specifically designed for student midwives such as conferences and workshops can foster engagement.
- Offer educational resources: Providing access to high quality educational materials, such as journals, online courses, webinars, and guidance is a significant draw for student members. They can support their studies and complement their curriculums.
- Engage through social media: Social media platforms are an excellent way to connect with student midwives. The RCM has had great success on Instagram with interactive content, such as live webinars and Q&A sessions.
- Collaborate with universities: Building partnerships with universities or institutions that offer midwifery education can help associations reach more students. Collaborations might include supporting university midwifery societies, providing guest speakers from the association or facilitating elective opportunities for students to shadow association staff.
- Provide opportunities for involvement: Student midwives should have opportunities to participate in the association’s work. This can include volunteering at events, contributing to publications, or joining committees. Hands on involvement helps students feel more connected and valued.
- Recognise and reward contributions: Acknowledging the efforts of student midwives can encourage continued involvement. This could be through awards, certificates, or highlighting their achievements in association newsletters, or on social media.
By creating opportunities and support for students, midwives’ associations can nurture the next generation of midwives. This engagement not only benefits students but also strengthens the association and the wider midwifery community. Students are part of the midwifery community from the minute they start their programme and should be included in the association from the outset. As midwifery continues to evolve, the voices and ideas of student midwives will play a crucial role in shaping the profession. By fostering connections and offering meaningful opportunities, midwifery associations can ensure that these voices are heard and valued. Let us work together to inspire, empower, and support student midwives as they embark on their journey into this vital profession.
In this blog we’ve outlined eight key ways to engage student midwives, and throughout this blog series, we’ll explore each in more depth. In our next post, we’ll dive into the first tip: how to create a student membership category. Stay tuned!
