ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the emotional journey of the continuity of carer experience and examines the literature base of confidence and competence; professional boundaries and responsibilities; work-life balance; human factors; resilience and burnout; future practice. Midwifery education prepares students to be safe, competent and effective practitioners and curricula are responsive to changes in service provision and demographics. Continuity of carer, as delineated in Domain Two of the new standards for midwifery education, is one such development. Clear professional boundaries are intended to safeguard the student, the woman, and the supervising midwife. Lack of commitment undermines the underlying philosophy of continuity of carer, that of holistic woman-centred midwifery care, and the potential for continuity of carer to confer improved outcomes to women. Work-related stress may cause up to half of midwives to feel unwell, and the negative working practices are associated with increased absenteeism due to sickness, high levels of staff turnover, and higher rates of burnout.
