Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: mechanisms for putting plans into actions

the aim of this qualitative study was to develop theory regarding how newly-graduated midwives deal with applying a midwifery philosophy of care in their first six months of practice.

the research aim signifies the study of social processes. Hence Grounded Theory methodology was employed. Data were generated from semi-structured interviews and participant and interviewer journals.

the study was conducted in Perth, Western Australia, with graduate midwives working in private and public, secondary and tertiary maternity hospital settings.

11 female midwives who were previously nurses and had recently graduated from a 12 month post graduate university-based midwifery course participated.

the substantive theory of transcending barriers was generated. It has three stages: 'Addressing personal attributes', 'Understanding the 'bigger picture'', and 'Evaluating, planning and acting' to provide woman-centred care. An overview of the theory was presented in a previous paper. The mechanisms where 'plans are moved into action' which form the final sub-stage of the stage 'Evaluating, planning and acting' are presented in this paper.

the theory of transcending barriers provides a new perspective on how newly-graduated midwives 'deal with' applying the philosophy of midwifery in their first six months of practice. The final sub-stage of the theoretical model highlights four mechanisms that newly-graduated midwives implement in their endeavours to provide woman-centred care, increase autonomy and develop their personal philosophy of midwifery.

understanding the four mechanisms can assist health care providers to facilitate the transition of newly-graduated midwives into clinical practice.