are based on the outcomes of the practices
of apprentice trained midwives!
Midwifery is unlike medicine in practice, philosophy and educational process. Midwives should never consider adopting their educational system unless we are prepared to accept the sacrifices we would make in practice - and unless we are ready to adopt a new philosophy. The educational differences in midwifery and medicine are best exemplified by the fact that midwifery has been traditionally learned through apprenticeship; medicine has completely overlooked the validity of that route.
Medicine operates as one huge tree with many branches. Midwives, by necessity, are more like individual trees, rooted in tradition, nurtured by the rewards of their work which are subject to individual definition. Midwives often stand together as a grove of trees, but they respect the individuality of each tree. Midwives also extend themselves to shelter little trees (apprentices) as they grow. That growth process is called the apprenticeship.
Historically
proven educational route
One-on-one
learning is most effective in most situations
More
opportunity for personalized teaching and learning
Most
effective way to learn the benefits of continuity of care
Quickly
reconciles expectations with reality
Offers
opportunity for more questions
Emphasizes
degree of personal integrity and accountability required because
of limited back up; no cover-up
Underscores
importance of self-confidence and self reliance
Promotes
autonomy necessary for working outside the “system”
Integrates
learning through observation followed by supervised participation.
not in a classroom, but in real situations
Allows
students to view birth from practitioner’s point of view
Working
with midwife’s clients teaches tolerance and respect for
diversity of backgrounds, beliefs, and lifestyles
Accountability
to teacher prepares for accountability to client
Promotes
responsibility for learning; reciprocity with teacher
Clarifies
issues pertinent to midwifery by observing how the midwife deals
with and resolves them in her practice
Best
way to prepare for being “on call” as a lifestyle
Chance
to observe midwife in relationships with family or friends invited
to births, midwife’s peers, and medical community
Chance
to see importance of parental education and responsibility
Most
effective way to learn demands on time, family, emotions
Encourages
development of personal philosophy and procedure
Initial
limitations on participation and incremental assignments of responsibility
produces maturity and patience
Opportunity
to learn people skills specific to midwifery
Chance
to prove, over a period of time, the level of commitment
Most
effective way to learn when protocol should be adapted
Instills
respect for the client-midwife relationship
Opportunity
to find out what potential problems are
Opportunity
to see predominance of uncomplicated births and how complications
can be handled in an individual manner
Only
way to learn the dynamics specific to home birth
Copyright © 1994 Carla Hartley
Ancient
Art Midwifery Institute
Carla's Letter
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Please Note: We are not a nursing program nor affiliated with any nursing program. Although many of our students and graduates have become CNMs, we cannot provide any credentialing that will count toward a CNM.