RE: [ozmidwifery] RE:

[Michelle Windsor]

 

 

Doing midwifery was the biggest learning curve in my life.  This was despite having worked in a country hospital as an enrolled nurse and RN where you were expected to assist the midwife at births and give care to women on the ward when the midwife was with someone in labour.  I had already witnessed about a hundred births, but there is no way the level of knowledge I had before doing mid compared with what I learnt in my training (and am still learning!) 

 

I totally object to RN's doing midwifery care.  It is a specialised area and requires special skills.  Allowing RN's to do midwifery care undervalues the role and skills of midwives.  I have been working in the Northern Territory and have seen first hand the results of non-midwifery care.  While recognising that many of the RN's are doing the best they can (in remote areas) there were often huge gaps in the care given.  At the end of the day it is the women and their babies that suffer and this is totally unacceptable.

 

Cheers

Michelle

 

Rene and Tiffany <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

The art of midwifery existed long before the need for ‘qualifications’ existed…funny how I had to do 3 years nursing training (with 6 months of antenatal/womens health training included) to become a registered nurse and have had to work as such for 12 months before I could even apply to train as a midwife.  From the original post it appears that they are not suggesting the nurses birth babies, but assist in the care of the woman and the neonate - something new mothers do without the need for specialist training – I personally do not object to this. 

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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lisa Barrett
Sent: Thursday, 28 September 2006 4:28 PM
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] RE:

 

 

 

Some of the best people I have worked with have been div2's. Their knowledge and understanding put some of the 'midwives' to shame. Just how much nursing care does a newborn need?  Many LC's are not midwives, as are childbirth educators.  Maybe we should be assisting these people to be woman wise, and not judge them on qualifications.    

 

I have no doubt that there are many people other than midwives that have vast knowledge and understanding but antenatal and postnatal care is not nursing care at all. It is specific to normal healthy women who are childbearing.  If anyone can be trained to do this in just 8 days why bother with midwifery training.  If we and not judging people on their qualifications some of the brilliant lay midwives out there wouldn't be persecuted and they are way more specialised than nurses.

Lisa Barrett

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Ganesha Rosat
Sent: Thursday, 28 September 2006 8:33 AM
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject:

Hi all u wonderful women!

 

Just a quick posting in line with the current debate about maternity services within country areas and who provides services.

 

The hospital I am currently working in has decided to address our midwife shortage but training division two nurses to work in the maternity department.

These nurses have 3 days of theory, one day of orientation in óbstetric’ and five days of clinical experience.

On completion of their modules these girls will be able to:

            Assist in the provision of antenatal nursing care to the client

            Assist in the provision of nursing care to the healthy newborn baby

            Discuss the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding

            Assist in the evaluation of key stage of growth and development of the baby

            Assist in the provision of postnatal nursing care to the woman

 

This again indicates to me the lack of understanding of the needs of women (not clients). Instead of the hospital supporting midwives and creating a working environment that encourages new midwives to come to the area, they find quick fixes that only further add to the fragmentation of care.

 

Anyway what do u all think? And is this happening anywhere else?

 

Cheers Ganesha

           

 

 

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