An exploration of midwives' experiences of the transition to practice in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Background Many studies worldwide describe midwives' experiences during their transition from student midwife to qualified midwife. However, research on midwives' experience of transition to practice in the Republic of Ireland has not been published since 2008. This study aimed to explore midwives' experiences of their transition to practice in the Republic of Ireland. Methods A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with seven midwives, who commenced their post-registration clinical practice between December 2018 and September 2019. Results Midwives described transition to practice as a time when they felt challenged because of increased responsibility and accountability. It was a period of growth because of ‘learning by doing’, where a supportive working environment was paramount. Conclusions Newly qualified midwives have considerable need for support yet it appears they do not always receive this support.

Newly qualified midwives’ experiences of caring for women in the maternity setting: An integrative review

“…Naqshbandi et al 27 add that supportive colleagues help NQMs to adapt faster, have a smooth transition, increase confidence, and make them more likely to retain their profession. This support offered NQMs positive learning experiences in practice 8,28 and helped with stress and anxiety 24 . Fitting in and feeling accepted and not judged was an inspirational goal for NQMs 28,34 .…”

“…Avis et al 29 Barry et al 19 Barry et al 1 Cazzini et al 24 Clements et al 2 Fenwick et al 34 Griffiths et al 21 Hobbs 22 Kitson Reynolds et al 20 Kool et al 25 Naqshbandi et al 27 Norris 28 Saliba 31 Sheehy et al 8 Simane-Netshisaulu and Maputle 33 Skirton et al 26 van der Putten 5 Wain 4 Watson and Brown 23 Young 35 The Review paper other midwives, sharing the same philosophy of care, and keeping women at the center of care. In contrast, those from the same study who were assigned to a hospitalbased setting expressed negative feedback about their experience 2 .…”

“…Another factor that helped NQMs cope with their transition, was being assigned to work in clinical areas where they previously trained as students helping them to adapt faster in their role due to the familiarity with the ward setting and workforce 8,24,31 . It also helped them in the steep learning curve and to provide better care to women 8,24,31 .…”

“…Five studies show that when NQMs were supervised or assigned to a senior midwife, facilitator or preceptor during duties, NQMs' confidence increased, giving them a sense of security 4,24,25,29,31 emphasizing that being surrounded by support from colleagues was deemed crucial and helpful [23][24][25]29,31 . Naqshbandi et al 27 add that supportive colleagues help NQMs to adapt faster, have a smooth transition, increase confidence, and make them more likely to retain their profession.…”

“…shift that is made up of mixed levels of staffing experience 8 and is considered supernumerary 23,24 was also seen as an important strategy for learning and safety in practice.…”