The initiation of Dutch newly qualified hospital-based midwives in practice, a qualitative study | 55 ‘Teamwork is really important, that actually determines everything in your work, I think, because you need each other.’ (P17). Positive support from peers (other midwives), and accessible consultations with obstetricians, when available, were reported as helpful. One participant organized consultation meetings with experienced midwives for this reason. Another participant mentioned support and guidance from the manager of the ward as resource: ‘,.. my team manager was actually the one who was responsible for the focus on my settling-in period support. I had an evaluation interview with her on a weekly basis, just very briefly, to see where are you, how are you doing and how do we continue?’ (P10) Working with women Rewarding feedback from women was perceived as a job resource. Doing the best for women and their families and building a relationship of trust with them was experienced as motivating. ‘If it is just a beautiful birth: mother and child are doing well. Or, if people when they leave say: ‘oh, thank you’. Or a follow-up check where people are just satisfied with you. That's the best thing. Or sometimes also a heavy situation that is nicely solved, a shoulder dystocia that you get out, that ends well.’ (P14) Variety of the work The variety of the work in a hospital setting altogether appeared to be seen as a resource. NQMs felt satisfied and excited when they were able to deal with handling a lot of deliveries, and with different and unexpected, even complex, situations that challenged them. ‘An acute situation that ends well, that was very thrilling ... I like the challenge when someone has a hemorrhage post-partum. I think okay, what can I do in order for her to be fine. Yes, I really like that kind of action.’ (P13) Employment conditions An initial period for familiarization with the maternity ward, a period of lesser workload and the presence of supervising midwives were perceived as an important resource. When NQMs got the opportunity to take some weeks settling and were able to get supervision until they could manage different delivery rooms by themselves, they felt more secure and competent. Furthermore, clear expectations regarding what was expected from NQMs was an important resource. Stability in employment conditions
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