Co-designing a resilience-based mentoring program for novice midwives: A participatory action research approach

Area of Science:

• Midwifery Education
• Workforce Development
• Resilience Training

Background:

• Effective midwife retention strategies are crucial for healthcare organizations.
• The transition from student to registered midwife presents a period of vulnerability requiring support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-design a resilience-based mentoring program for novice midwives.
• To inform the program using experiences of graduates and senior midwives.

Main Methods:

• Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach used for collaborative program development.
• Focus groups conducted with seven senior midwives and seven recent midwifery graduates.
• Thematic analysis of data to inform program design and content.

Main Results:

• Essential support elements include extended orientation, mentorship, emotional support, professional development, and feedback.
• A mentoring program was co-designed focusing on building emotional resilience.
• Southwick's resilience framework informed the program's strategies.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based, stakeholder-informed mentoring supports novice midwives' professional identity, wellbeing, and confidence.
• Improved retention and service outcomes are anticipated.
• The program offers a cost-effective solution to strengthen the midwifery workforce.