Midwifery educators are challenged to produce registrants who are fit for practice at the point of registration with competence at the heart of this expectation. In addition to achieving expertise in normal pregnancy, it is recognised that students need to have the skills of critical decision making where normal processes become adversely affected. An evaluation was undertaken with final year direct entry midwifery students using questionnaires and focus group interviews to determine whether simulated learning, such as the Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT) package, for emergency obstetric training would enhance self-efficacy and confidence levels in preparation for post-registration practice. The main themes that emerged from the study indicate that this style of learning increased midwifery students’ feelings of self-efficacy; highlighted the importance of a safe learning environment; reduced their anxiety regarding their ability to make decisions in clinical practice and reinforced confidence in their level of knowledge.

Approximately 1 in 3 adults have some type of advance directive. Advance care planning (ACP) is associated with greater use of supportive care services and decreased patient and family stress. Despite this, organizations continue to have difficulty in implementing effective programs for increasing ACP. Increasing knowledge and comfort of the health care team with end-of-life discussions and ACP is essential. Educational efforts should focus on decreasing known barriers to ACP discussions such as discomfort, unclear role, lack of experience, and limited education. Role playing and case discussions taught by geriatric resources nurses can help increase staff knowledge and comfort regarding ACP. Role playing allows staff to think about their own mortality and what will happen in various situations if ACP is not complete. Team members find that once they have completed their own ACP, they are more comfortable discussing ACP with patients and caregivers. Nurses should collaborate with social workers and chaplains for ACP education and discussing what matters most to them. Patients are encouraged to make sure that they provide advance directives to their health care providers. This article shares an interprofessional team approach to improving processes for ACP as a component of “what matters most” to older adults with cancer.

The use of surveys and direct feedback from women as a measurement of their maternity experience is seen as a means of stimulating quality improvement.Underpinning the overall rationale behind national maternity surveys is the acknowledgement that there is a need to document women's views of maternity services to inform policy makers with a view to enhancing the delivery of quality care to women. The evidence suggests that using maternity surveys to improve maternity care experience is central to UK health policy. It is also evident that qualitative input from women has the power to highlight mismatches of experience between women and professionals. Trusts are required to look to the future and invest in qualitative methodologies, which elicit rich and detailed information on the woman's experiences. The aim of this literature review is to critically analyse the use of maternity surveys and their validity in improving the care experienced by users of maternity services.

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