Work Experiences of Delivery Room Nurses: A Phenomenological Study

Yunjung Lee

doi:10.4069/kjwhn.2017.23.2.78

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Lee: Work Experiences of Delivery Room Nurses: A Phenomenological Study

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2017; 23(2): 78-88.

Published online: 27 June 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2017.23.2.78

Work Experiences of Delivery Room Nurses: A Phenomenological Study

Yunjung Lee

Seoul Women's College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Lee, Yunjung. Seoul Women's College of Nursing, 38 Ganhodae-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03617, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2287-1724, Fax: +82-2-395-8018, yjlee@snjc.ac.kr

Received 5 October 2016 Revised 9 March 2017 Accepted 29 March 2017

(open-access):

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to understand meaning and essentials in work experiences of delivery room nurses.

Methods

A phenomenological perspective was used for this qualitative research. Ten delivery room nurse with more than 3 years of work experience participated in this study. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with the nurses, between December 2012 and April 2013. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method.

Results

Nine theme clusters and four categories emerged from the data as follows: 1) factors influencing career decision-making, 2) gap between reality and expectations, 3) difficulties with working in the delivery room, and 4) motivation to work in the delivery room.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, strategies to improve working environment of the delivery room nurses are necessary. Also, better policy are required to firmly establish the role of the delivery room nurses' role as recognized professionals.

Keywords: Delivery room, Nurse, Experience, Qualitative research

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Work Experiences of Delivery Room Nurses

Categories	Theme cluster	Themes
Factors influencing career decision-making	Expectations of a positive experience	·Hope to avoid patients' death
	Expectations of a positive experience	·Expectations for complete recovery
	Expectations of professionalism	·Expectations of working in a specialty area
	Expectations of professionalism	·Expectations of obtaining a midwifery license
Gap between reality and expectations	Ambivalence about the delivery	·Blessed role as women
	Ambivalence about the delivery	·Considering the joy of childbirth as work/task
	Concerns related to professional role	·limitation of midwives' role
	Concerns related to professional role	·Absence of the advanced practice nurse system/degree
Difficulties with working in the delivery room	Continuous tension	·Rapidly changing situations during deliveries
	Continuous tension	·Nursing activities monitored by the families in the LDR
	Physical and mental burnout	·Physical injury during labor process
		·Excessive demands and personal humiliation from the laboring woman and the family
		·Conflict of opinions with doctors
		·Unclear allocation of duties
	Difficulties with self-development	·Insufficient rewards for heavy workload
		·Lack of educational advancement opportunities
		·Difficulties obtaining midwifery license
Motivation to work in the delivery room	Sense of accomplishment	·The wonder of birth
	Sense of accomplishment	·Family's appreciation for the nursing care
	Expectations of professional development	·Preference for giving birth in a hospital specialized in obstetrics
	Expectations of professional development	·Confidence from becoming an expert

LDR=labor, delivery, recovery room.

Summary Statement

▪ What is already known about this topic?

Over the past two decades, the birth environment has become increasingly focused on concern for maternal and neonatal well-being. Subsequently, in an increasingly demanding healthcare environment, the delivery room nurses face more challenges than ever.

▪ What this paper adds?

This phenomenological study identified concerns related to professional role and physical and mental burnout as the main problems for the delivery room nurses.

▪ Implications for practice, education and/or policy

Intervention programs for improving morale and working conditions of the delivery room nurses should be developed and the better policy are required to support the professional development and recognition of the delivery room nurses.

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