Which document outlines the competencies required for midwives in New Zealand?

The Midwifery Competency Standards is the primary document that outlines the specific competencies required for midwives in New Zealand. These standards are critical as they set forth the necessary skills, knowledge, and professional behaviors that midwives must possess to ensure safe and effective practice throughout the continuum of care for mothers and their newborns. This document supports midwives in their professional development and is foundational for educational programs as well as for the regulatory bodies that oversee midwifery practice.

In contrast, while the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 provides the legal framework for ensuring the competence of health practitioners in New Zealand, it does not specifically detail the competencies needed for midwifery practice. The New Zealand Medical Association Guidelines focus more on the practices and expectations for medical professionals rather than midwives. Finally, the Nursing and Midwifery Board Codes might serve as ethical and practice standards for nursing and midwifery as a whole but do not specifically delineate the competencies exclusive to midwifery practice as outlined in the Midwifery Competency Standards.