WORKING AS A COORDINATOR MIDWIFE IN A TERTIARY ...

midwife, whilst ensuring safe practice resumes. Conversely, I observe midwives under
stress being challenged by the coordinator midwife or talked about in the office or public
places, with disregard for their vulnerability at that time. I ask myself why this happens
and what are the invisible emotional challenges coordinators are experiencing when this
occurs?
I can think of coordinators who show immediate strong leadership in emergency
situations and delegate well, with whom I feel safe. I can think of others who appear to
panic, who take over situations or appear indecisive and with whom I feel less safe.
Again, these are my personal interpretations and I wanted to gain insight into the stories
about coordinators’ individual responses to emergency situations and gain their
viewpoints based on their experiences.
When I worked as an LMC I recall one particular coordinator who would always check
the documentation of every LMC in secondary care situations despite the LMC having
formally accepted autonomous professional responsibility for delivery of midwifery care
to her client in the tertiary setting. I would reflect during these times, that it was my
response which was critical in our relationship. I decided to view this approach as a
double checking process which contributed to client safety rather than an alternative
response which could have been one of feeling threatened by that coordinator. It was my
sense of confidence and competence in my professional practice which determined
whether I perceived she was practising safely or checking up on me because she did not
trust me. On occasions, her approach would irritate me; however my choice of reaction
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