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Ryerson’s midwifery students return to practice

How the university and partners helped students continue their placements during COVID-19
October 20, 2020
A midwife checks the blood pressure of a pregnant person

All 28 midwifery students who needed placements this summer were able to secure them. Photo credit: iStock.

“It is a little strange providing care for someone without seeing their whole face,” said Isuri Herath.

The fourth-year midwifery student is referring to what it is like to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Herath started the midwifery program in 2017 and was finishing her placement at the Ottawa Birth Centre when the pandemic hit. With placements on hold, she stayed in Ottawa, where her family lives, and waited to find out where, and if, her placements would continue.

“We had a lot of meetings and [the university] did their best to keep us in the loop. It all happened pretty quickly,” said Herath. “I found out on June 25 that my [next placement] start date was July 6.”

Herath was able to keep her placement spot at East Mississauga Midwives (external link)  and quickly found a place to live that is only 10 minutes from both her hospital and clinic of practice.

While some of Herath’s classmates ended up with different placements than originally planned, Ryerson’s midwifery program was able to find a placement for all 28 of the summer students who required them.

Isuri Herath

Isuri Herath has been doing her midwifery placement at East Mississauga Midwives since July.

The Ryerson community really came together to ensure that students could return safely to their placements. The Creative Technology Lab at FCAD provided students with laser-cut face shields and The Sewing Army and their volunteers, as well as midwifery student Francine Maitland, provided cloth gowns. 

“At a time of such high stress and uncertainty, with so many aspects being new to all of us, it was heartening to see how so many parties were able to come together so quickly to keep this key part of midwifery education on track,” said Loreto Freire, experiential learning coordinator for the Midwifery Education Program, who, along with Elizabeth Allemang, the faculty clinical education coordinator, is responsible for organizing all placements for midwifery students.

“We want to acknowledge the FCS Dean’s office, the midwifery practices and the students for their commitment, support and flexibility when it was needed most,” Freire added. 

Herath said the transition into her placement has been pretty seamless.

“I have had a really lovely time working with and learning from the team,” she said. “The pandemic has made some parts of the job harder, but there are also days where you just forget that you have a mask on your face and it becomes almost normal.”

Herath and her cohort of midwifery students are in an interesting position. They will see permanent changes happen right before their eyes as protocols continue to evolve with the status of COVID-19. 

“Things don’t really go backwards in terms of infection prevention and control,” Herath said. “I think the precautions we have in place will continue. We’re paying even more attention to it than we already were.”

Herath’s placement will continue into April, when she will take a licensing exam. As she continues in her placement period, she has been able to reflect on the whirlwind of the past few months.

“I was really impressed by the amount of coordination that needed to happen in order to get us back into placement,” said Herath. “That is one of the most amazing things about this entire thing. Everyone – the hospitals, my professors, the university – everyone just worked together to get us back.”

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