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Developing confidence in competence: My experience of the Midwifery First Year of Practice programme

Abstract:

Background: Confidence and competence do not always co-exist in the context of a new graduate midwife. Being competent does not always mean being confident and vice versa. In New Zealand, the Midwifery First Year of Practice (MFYP) programme supports new graduate midwives through their first year of practice. Aim: This paper examines the concepts of competence and confidence in the context of my experiences as a new graduate midwife in New Zealand, participating in the MFYP programme. The four aspects of the MYFP programme are identified as they relate to my experience. These are: clinical practice, one-to-one mentoring, funded education/professional development and quality assurance, with the focus being on the mentoring aspect of the programme. Discussion: Using published research about transition programmes alongside my experience of the MFYP programme, I identify my individual challenges during my transition year and how the individualised support available to me through the MFYP programme helped me to meet those challenges. Conclusion: Whilst there is no clear demarcation point between being a graduate and becoming a confident midwife, my experience suggests that building confidence in the first year of practice is a very individual journey. I believe the MFYP programme successfully supports a graduate’s transition from a competent to a confident midwife.

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competence, confidence, graduate, mentoring, Midwifery First Year of Practice