The experiences of nursing students during childbirth: preliminary results

Throughout the nursing program, students encounter different circumstances, such as childbirth, and respond in different ways to the difficulties of being a nurse. Clinical practice experiences are crucial to the education of future nurses, and it is imperative to describe and reflect on these experiences. We aim to present the preliminary findings of a qualitative study conducted with undergraduate nursing students about their experiences of observing childbirth for the first time. The research presented, qualitative in nature, fits into the fundamental theory that allows the theory to be generated using an inductive approach. As a data collection method, we used the survey and the technique chosen is the individual semi-structured interview. Its content was analysed through content analysis technique. This abstract provides a summary of our initial findings from the first six interviews. The average duration of the interviews was 13 minutes and 15 seconds, and the average age of the participants was 21.5 years. After reading and analysing the content of each interview transcript, we classify students' experiences into 10 categories: feelings (f=36), staff nurses interaction (f=10), confrontation with reality (f=8), satisfaction with care (f=8), differences between types of childbirth (f=7), internship's effect on desire to become a parent (f=6), managing adverse situations (f=6), expectations (f=5), future professionals' projects (f=3), and family presence (f=1). The experiences described by students are very wide and include emotions of happiness, sadness, and feeling overwhelmed. These experiences affect their decisions regarding motherhood and their professional goals. Students also mentioned that women are especially vulnerable in this setting and that what they observe, and experience is quite different from what they anticipated. Students also characterise adverse circumstances that induce feelings of sadness. This study examines the experiences gained by students during clinical practise, focusing on the delivery room practise and maternity care experiences. Based on these preliminary findings, we can comprehend the experiences of nursing students through their own words. These findings will enable us to gain a deeper understanding of student experiences and to adapt our curricula to better prepare students for them. During this phase of a student's training, it is crucial to understand and interpret their expectations, sentiments, and feelings. This research will contribute to a greater understanding of the relational and human skill development of students in the context of childbirth care. Thus, future nurses will be able to provide care in a manner that interprets and values women's emotions and feelings, which are crucial for providing improved childbirth assistance.