A practical, evidence-based approach to psychological and professional well-being for midwives
Midwifery is an essential profession with a life-saving role in perinatal care. However, studies show that midwives experience remarkably high levels of work-related psychological distress, leading to equally high levels of attrition from the profession. If these issues are not addressed, the loss of qualified midwives may seriously impact the profession’s ability to fight perinatal and infant mortality worldwide.
Surviving and Thriving in Midwifery offers a practical, evidence-based guide for midwives to achieve social, psychological, and professional success. Drawing upon extensive research as well as the personal experiences of midwives, the book invites readers to respond to a range of workplace challenges and develop robust strategies for coping, conflict resolution, and more. Thoroughly grounded in occupational psychology, it is a vital tool for any midwife looking to thrive in this critical profession.
Surviving and Thriving in Midwifery readers will also find:
A global perspective on midwifery across the life course The author’s personal journey through their own experience of losing their fitness to practice through ill health, before regaining it and achieving lasting success Detailed strategies for building psychological safety in midwifery teams, setting boundaries, and many more
Surviving and Thriving in Midwifery is ideal for aspiring, student, and qualified midwives worldwide.
By:
Sally Pezaro (Coventry University UK),
Karen Maher (Aston University,
UK)
Imprint: Wiley-Blackwell
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 249mm,
Width: 175mm,
Spine: 13mm
Weight: 431g
ISBN: 9781119881001
ISBN 10: 1119881005
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 10 April 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of Contributors viii Author Contact Details and Biographies ix Foreword xi Preface xiii Acknowledgements xv List of Figures xvi List of Tables xvii Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Intro to Chapter 1 Circumstances, which No Man can Be a Judge of: Sarah Stone and the Improvement of Midwifery 2 Contemporary Midwifery 5 What to Expect from this Book 10 Chapter 2 Unearthing Your Identity as a Midwife 12 Intro to Chapter 12 Personal Identity, Values and Vision 12 Navigating Your Professional Journey 15 Finding Your Chosen Community 19 Self-Awareness and Personal Development 21 Tools for Self-Awareness and Personal Development 22 In Conversation(Karen and Sally Exploring Sally’s Personal Journey Through Constructing Her Identity) 26 Chapter 3 Surviving and Thriving the Day to Day 28 Intro to Chapter 28 Managing Demands and Protecting Resources 29 Maintaining Compassion 32 Optimising Shift Work 35 Midwifing Outside the System 38 In Conversation (Sally and Karen Explore Personal Thoughts and Experiences on Maintenance of Occupational Health) 43 Chapter 4 Responding to Workplace Challenges 50 Intro to Chapter 50 Coping with Stressors 51 Problematic Substance Use 54 Tools for Adaptive Coping 62 Problem-Solving and Decision-Making 66 In Conversation (Sally and Karen Explore Personal Experiences of Responding to Workplace Challenges) 68 Chapter 5 Thriving in Interpersonal Relationships at Work 72 Intro to Chapter 72 Enabling Your Team to Thrive 72 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 73 Psychological Safety and Trust 75 Successful Conflict Resolution 77 Managing and Challenging Workplace Incivility 80 In Conversation (Sally and Karen Explore Personal Thoughts on Interpersonal Relations at Work) 85 Chapter 6 Surviving When Things Go Wrong 89 Intro to Chapter 89 Surviving Traumatic Incidents 90 Developing Personal Insight and Forgiveness 94 Escalating Concerns 97 Maximising Opportunities for Learning 102 In Conversation (Karen and Sally Explore Personal Insight into What Happens When Things Go Wrong) 105 Chapter 7 Thriving in Evidence-based Practice and Academia 110 Intro to Chapter 110 Typical Expectations and Tips for Career Advancement 111 Top 10 Tips for Academic Success 114 Writing for Publication 117 Using Evidence to Inform Practice 124 In Conversation(Karen and Sally Share Insight from Their Academic Career Journey) 130 Chapter 8 Leading with Impact 132 Intro to Chapter 132 What is a Leader? 132 What Kind of Leader Will You Be? 133 We are All Leaders 136 Leading with Compassion 146 Lifting Others up as You Climb 148 In Conversation(Sally and Karen Explore Personal Insights on Leadership) 149 Chapter 9 Turning Visions into Practice 152 Intro to Chapter 152 Goal Setting 152 Be the Change You Want to See 156 In Conversation (Sally and Karen’s Final Reflections) 158 Recommended Resources and Links to Organisations 160 Appendix 163 List of Values 163 References 164 Index 176
Dr Sally Pezaro is an award winning Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, editorial board and consortium member and an academic researcher at Coventry University, UK. Dr Karen Maher is a Chartered Psychologist and Academic in Organisational Psychology at Aston Business School, Aston University, UK. She is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and former Chair of the Organisational Psychology Special Interest Group for the British Academy of Management.
