Abstract
Background
Despite the benefits of support on the quality of maternal care, there is a general lack of support, which proved to have a less desired effect on the level of quality care within maternal units. To ensure the midwives operate to a high standard to ensure quality and patient safety in maternal care, support from the nursing managers creates a positive psychological environment to cope and manage themselves in the complex nature of the maternity unit. The study aimed to explore and describe midwives' perceptions regarding clinical support by nursing managers in a Tshwane hospital. The study described recommendations regarding the kind of clinical support required by midwives from the nursing managers in rendering maternal care.
Methods
The study used Qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual research design to achieve the aim and objectives. The study used purposive sampling to select participants with insight and experience on the phenomenon. Before conducting the research, the researcher sought ethical permission from the NuMIQ research focus area and the North-West University Health Research Ethics Committee. Unstructured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted to collect data. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.
Results
Four themes emerged from the findings of this study, namely challenges related to lack of resources, emotional distress, lack of support, and recommended measures for support.
Conclusion
Quality and patient safety in maternity care is dependent on comprehensive clinical support for the midwives. Therefore, clinical support from the nursing managers enables the midwives to mitigate the challenges experienced in maternity units. Moreover, clinical support from nursing managers limits emotional distress and physical burnout that contributes to poor mental health and lack of job satisfaction in midwives. Those factors predispose the attrition rate of midwives and lead to the occurrence of adverse events in maternal care, which affects the well-being of patients in the maternity units. Therefore, there is a need for midwives to receive clinical support from nursing managers.