Report Broken Link

Being a delivery suite co-ordinator

Abstract:

This phenomenological study was conducted to reveal five midwives’ experiences of working as coordinator/charge midwives in three tertiary hospital delivery suite settings. The findings reveal the unspoken, taken-for-granted personal experiences of the coordinators. They describe themselves as the ‘hub’ or the ‘pivot’ at their workplace. These midwives ‘know’ the unpredictability of childbirth and the challenge of managing escalating workloads. Their ability to facilitate teamwork and their resilience in the face at times of seemingly insurmountable obstacles shine through. However much managers plan staffing and bed ratios, the nature of childbirth – and therefore the intensity of the workload - is unpredictable. Recommendations from this study include consideration of strategic planning by District Health Board's (DHB’s) for when the acute clinical needs of women in a delivery suite outweigh the ratio of midwives available to provide care for women. The coordinator midwife needs to be free to utilise her clinical skills ‘on the floor’ whilst a designated resource person arranges additional staffing cover for the unit.

 view online article View Document

clinical skills, coordinators, Midwives, teamwork