My Mentor Reflection

Similar to my previous reflection but within this one I want to focus on my own progression outside of all of my support networks, how I feel I transitioned. I mentioned how when I first came out I was scared, but I wasn’t full of fear. I trusted my training and my knowledge I had developed over my three intense years as a student. I knew I had some experience and competence under my belt, I just needed to learn how to use this.

I was so incredibly proud of myself as well, I wanted to be a midwife since I was 14 years old and suddenly I was sitting in the uniform office getting fitted for my bright purple midwives top. I remember looking at myself in the mirror and being overwhelmed with this mixture of feelings and knowing this year was

Some days I really did not feel competent. My first rotation was the hardest. I think especially because of the ward I started on. I worked in a 36 bed high acuity, low staffed maternity ward. This provided challenges for my time management which looking back I am now grateful for because it accelerated my learning at a faster pace. I was also challenged with medication management as this was not something I had had a lot of responsibility with as a sudent. But through practice wisdom, revising pharmacology content and getting to know protocols, I fixed this gap in my competence. I do admit that initially I utilised my support networks well and was consulting with senior staff in regards to management of situations I was unsure of and I think this showed my acknowledgement of where my own personal scope ended and where I knew I needed help to ensure the safety of my

I was just doing my job and doing it well! I then trasitioned to birthing suite on the north shore, this bought a whole new basket of challenges. I was incredibly unconfident with induction of labour. Mainly because of my lack in confidence with vaginal examinations. Inductions also meant drawing on many other skilss from my midwifery tool box which I knew I needed to work on such as I.v cannulation, artifical rupture of membranes, syntocinon augmention etc. etc. I too gained confidence fast in this ward because of the amount of inductions I was involved in. Initially I did not trust myself and felt the need to have some vaginal examinations checked due to my finidings heavily influencing plans. After my first week I no longer did this. Before long I found myself so confident with my abilities and supported by my competence that I was challenging reasons for inductions, does this really meet our guidelines and procotols? Or are we really doing what is best and safe for this mum and baby? It felt good!! I felt like a midwife! Advocating for women, finally, something I had looked up to many other midwives for doing.. Now I’m doing