Standards of Practice

The New Zealand College of Midwives' Philosophy and Code of Ethics are the foundation for midwifery practice.

The following standards provide the benchmark for the midwife's practice and appropriate usage of midwifery's body of knowledge. They identify a series of actions that are essential to the development and maintenance of the midwifery partnership with women.

Turanga Kaupapa, developed by Nga Maia are included as the cultural framework which guides midwives practice. Turanga Kaupapa are a reference and source of support for midwives, wahine and whanau.

These standards with accompanying criteria provide the framework for Midwifery Practice in New Zealand.These are published in the Midwives Handbook for Practice which can be purchased through the NZCOM shop. The Standards of Midwifery Practice without accompanying criteria are listed below:

Standard
one:	The midwife works in partnership with the woman
two:	The midwife upholds each woman's right to free and informed choice
three:	The midwife collates and documents comprehensive assessments of the woman and/or baby's health and wellbeing
four:	The midwife maintains purposeful, on-going, updated records and makes them available to the woman and other relevant persons
five:	Midwifery care is planned with the woman
six:	Midwifery actions are prioritised and implemented appropriately with no midwifery action or omission placing the woman at risk
seven:	The midwife is accountable to the woman, to herself, to the midwifery profession and to the wider community for her practice
eight:	The midwife evaluates her practice
nine:	The midwife negotiates the completion of the midwifery partnership with the woman
ten:	The midwife develops and shares midwifery knowledge and initiates and promotes research

Links referenced

Nga Maia: http://www.ngamaia.co.nz/
Turanga Kaupapa: http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm/1,269,0,-1,html/Turanga-Kaupapa

Location http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm/1,265,html