Midwife's self-assessment form

Use these questions to assess your performance, reflect on what you did well and what you can improve in the future

Guidelines to help you assess your performance

• Facilitates Relationship==
  • takes responsibility for negotiating an effective partnership
  • maintains comfortable rapport with the woman
  • establishes trust
  • is responsive to the needs expressed by the woman
  • maintains professional manner and presentation

• Assesses
  • assesses woman’s own knowledge and experience
  • identifies woman’s needs and responds
  • recognises woman’s social, cultural and health context

• Shares Information
  • displays an accurate knowledge base
  • provides quality evidence based information
  • appropriate options offered
  • communicates clearly and effectively
  • establishes woman’s understanding

• Conclusion==
  • brief summary of information provided
  • establishes availability for ongoing discussion/advice
  • documents telephone discussion
    

Specific guidelines to help you assess your actions

• Assesses woman’s condition
  • general condition and how she is coping
  • history of contractions: when they started, how often they are, how long they last, how strong they are, can she talk through them on the phone?
  • has she had a show, what does it look like?
  • has she ruptured her membranes? what colour is the liquor?
  • is she managing to eat and drink?
  • is she passing urine and normal had bowel movements in the last 24 – 48 hours
  • how the baby has been moving in the last 24 hours
  • what support she is getting at home? Does she want to come to the birth unit for assessment?
  • reviews history and background from woman’s notes, exclude risk factors

• Sharing information
  • signs of established labour
  • women do better in labour if they stay at home as long as possible
  • things to look out for that necessitate calling again eg ruptured membranes, vaginal bleeding, severe pain

• Plan for ongoing care
  • rest as much as possible
  • eat and drink
  • relax in warm shower/bath
  • monitor baby’s movements
  • ring again if labour appears to be establishing or if the woman has any concerns
  • make sure bag is packed and there is petrol in the car

• Concludes discussion appropriately
  • briefly summarize advice and plan of action
  • ensure woman’s understanding
  • emphasize her choice about plan of action
  • make sure she knows how contact you for further information/advice if needed
  • make sure she knows when to contact you for further information/advice

• Documents discussion including advice and plan for ongoing care
  • date, time, signature
  • information woman shared with you
  • advice you gave woman
  • plan of action