The midwives in the present study stated that clear leadership, a well-structured unit and sufficient time for patients were essential for the experience of security, which agrees with the study by McCutcheon et al. (2009), who revealed that the style of leadership and size of the unit have an impact on the work environment. According to Kay (2010), midwives want a job description with clear boundaries indicating where their responsibility ends and that of the leadership begins as well as the opportunity for dialogue with management about the factors that impact on their sense of professional security. Tomey (2009) wrote that nurses who received clear guidelines from the care manager found it easier to identify and utilise care-related knowledge to change and improve routines in the department. The participants in the study by Bishop (2009) wished for open communication and a good relationship with the leadership. They were of the opinion that this is vital for patient care.