Competencies of midwives with single or dual qualifications at the point of registration in Scotland.
OBJECTIVE
to compare and contrast competencies of midwives with single or dual qualifications at the point of registration in Scotland.


METHODS
self-completing survey using the Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital's Skills' Inventory by midwives at the point of registration and by Supervisors of Midwives analysed using non-parametric statistical tests. Content analysis of semi-structured interviews with experienced midwives and Supervisors of Midwives.


METHODS
midwifery education and practice settings throughout Scotland.


METHODS
157 midwives at the point of registration, 166 Supervisors of Midwives.


METHODS
Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis analysis of skills of midwives at the point of registration in prenatal, labour, post-natal, neonatal areas and extended skills areas. FINDINGS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: all newly qualified midwives in Scotland, regardless of their educational preparation, are capable of providing care for women and babies in normal midwifery situations. While support for the direct entry programmes has been clearly demonstrated, this is not unanimous, although as more direct entry midwives take up positions, attitudes are becoming more positive.
Fleming
V
V
Department of Nursing and Community Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, UK. v.fleming@gcal.ac.uk
Poat
A
A
Curzio
J
J
Douglas
V
V
Cheyne
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003406:Credentialing / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D012107:Research Design; D012606:Scotland; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires