124 | Chapter 6 Previous studies in NQMs recognise the role of the working environment as a resource in this transition.1-3 NQMs recognised this resource as theoretically important but in reality, the working environment was not always supportive. Community-based NQMs perceived working with clients as resourceful, but desired back-up from colleagues which they lacked in practice.1 Hospital-based NQMs perceived the collaboration in a multidisciplinary team as resourceful, but they experienced a deficit in time spent working together with experienced midwives during a shift.2 During a shift, midwives are responsible for multiple birthing suites.2 They don’t have the time and possibilities for working together in the same room. Although Dutch NQMs in our previous studies emphasised the importance of available colleagues to feel confident in practice, it is unclear how the incumbent group of midwives perceive NQMs’ performance and their transition into practice. Furthermore, it is unclear how experienced midwives support NQMs in practice and what they perceive as their own roles and responsibilities. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the perceptions of experienced midwives regarding: (1) newly qualified midwives’ performance- and transition into practice, and (2) their own role in supporting this transition. The following research questions were answered in this study: 1) How do experienced midwives perceive the performance of NQMs in practice? 2) What do experienced midwives perceive to be their own role in supporting NQMs’ transition into practice? This study provides insights into the transition of Dutch NQMs into practice as perceived by experienced midwives. With the outcomes, we contribute to improving the transition period and support for NQMs. Furthermore, we contribute to acquiring knowledge about the transition of NQMs into independent midwifery practices.3 Newly qualified midwives in the Netherlands NQMs can choose to work in a community-based or on a hospital-based setting. After graduation most NQMs work in the community (72%) as either a self-employed midwife or a minority as an employed clinical midwife (7%). Community-based midwives hire a locum midwife for holiday-, maternity- or sick leave. NQMs work in their first years in practice mostly as a locum, before they can take a share in a partnership of midwives. Locum midwives are considered self-employed as an “autonomous professional without personnel” by the Dutch tax agency. 8 They are required to work for several different
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