Midwives are open to a workforce development strategy that includes nurses in post-natal units for a period of time, providing they are working towards midwifery registration.

NSWNMA midwives support a transitional skill mix model for postnatal units as a pathway to rebuilding the midwifery workforce, a recent NSWNMA survey suggests.

However, members are clear that transitional arrangements must not become a permanent replacement for registered midwives.

Just under half (49.1 per cent) indicated they could support a transitional skill mix model if there was a clear Award requirement and a plan to recruit, educate and rebuild the midwifery workforce.  A further 18.3 per cent said they may be able to support a model if strict policies and procedures were in place.

Combined, 67.4 per cent indicated conditional support or possible support. Of the rest, 13.8 per cent did not support a postnatal skill mix model even with conditions.

“The results demonstrate that support was overwhelmingly conditional rather than unconditional,” the survey report says. “The strongest level of support was connected to Award enforceability and a defined plan to rebuild the midwifery workforce.”

The survey asked midwives which nursing classifications could be included in a postnatal skill mix model. The responses showed a clear preference for classifications that are already undertaking midwifery education or have the capacity to enter a formal midwifery pathway.

The highest level of support was for undergraduate midwifery students employed as Assistants in Midwifery (77.2 per cent). This model has the potential to support non-midwifery component of care while providing students with valuable clinical experience and strengthening the future workforce pipeline.

“We need to continue growing and supporting our Bachelor of Midwifery students and new graduate midwives because, ultimately, the aim is to build a sustainable pipeline of midwives coming into the profession and staying.” said NSWNMA General Secretary Michael Whaites.

A clear majority (66.8 per cent) said RNs and ENs in postnatal units should be required to enrol in MidStart or a Bachelor of Midwifery.

Just over 32 per cent did not support mandatory enrolment. Among supporters of mandatory enrolment, 54 per cent would require this to commence within 12 months. The survey results therefore “support a model in which the pathway into midwifery is clearly defined at the commencement of employment and begins within an agreed period,” the survey report says.

The survey also asked if RNs undertaking MidStart should be included in the 80 per cent or 90 per cent midwifery component of the workforce. A narrow majority (52.4 per cent) supported this suggestion. “This question is central to the practical rebuilding of the midwifery workforce,” the survey report says.

“RNs undertaking MidStart are not yet registered midwives. However, they have formally entered an education pathway that leads to midwifery registration and are developing midwifery knowledge and clinical capability under supervision.

“Including MidStart participants within the higher percentage may provide services with a practical mechanism to develop the future workforce while maintaining a predominantly midwifery model.”