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

INTRODUCTION: This integrative review aims to explore the experiences of newly qualified midwives (NQMs) when caring for women in the maternity setting. METHODS: An integrative review (IR) method was chosen based on a systematic approach using Cooper’s 1984 framework for transparency and rigorousness. A total of 2428 articles were located, duplicate records were removed, leaving 1428 records. All titles and abstracts were reviewed and 91 articles were then retrieved in full text. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 studies were ultimately included in this IR. Appraisal tools were used for each study included in this review according to its research approach. RESULTS: Literature demonstrated how NQMs’ wellbeing is at stake after registration as they go through a tumultuous period full of psychological stress, fear and other surges of negative emotions. The importance for NQMs to form new and trusting relationships with colleagues and women patients is highly evident in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Transitioning from a student to a midwife brings about stress and tension especially when NQMs take full responsibility for the women under their care, knowing that their decisions might have a direct impact on the outcome for women, newborns, and families. Literature shows that NQMs are a precious entity to healthcare as they are the future of midwifery and hence more research is recommended.