Understanding and Avoiding Bullying
The National College of Midwifery is committed to providing education, support, and resources to end bullying in midwifery training. See our policy here . If you feel you are being bullied, please reach out to our President who can help you navigate this difficult situation.
Students have expressed that because most people do not witness a midwifery apprenticeship prior to experiencing it, it can be quite difficult to distinguish bullying from the normal stresses and challenges of the preceptor/ apprenticeship relationship. On this page, we have compiled resources and provide examples of bullying behavior to help create this distinction.
Bullying in Midwifery: An exploration of the power imbalance in the student/preceptor relationship
by Tracey Cuneo is featured on the above-linked student midwifery page and is excellent. It highlights specific behaviors in midwifery apprenticeships that are considered bullying.
This is the link to an anti-bullying campaign by MANA: The Dignity Birth Campaign
The following links will direct you to articles about bullying within direct entry midwifery:
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Farrell, M. Bullying. Midwifery Today, Issue 80, Winter 2006.
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Farrell, M. Who Is the Bully? Midwifery Today, Issue 81, Spring 2007.
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Farrell, M. The Target of the Bully and the Effects of PTSD . Midwifery Today, Issue 82, Summer 2007.
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Farrell, M. Finding Better Solutions to End Bullying – What a Midwife Can Do . Midwifery Today, Issue 83, Autumn 2007.
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Farrell, M. Finding Better Solutions to End Bullying – What an Organization Can Do. Midwifery Today, Issue 84, Winter 2007.
NCM welcomes public comments (positive and/or constructive) as part of our faculty's periodic evaluation process. Please submit a Public Comment Form here.