• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate work performance and calling as determinants of job satisfaction among nurse midwives. Methods: The participants of this study were registered nurse midwives who had worked in the delivery room for more than 6 months. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews, postal mail, and mobile devices. Subjects completed self-report questionnaires from July to August 2017. The dataset was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, analysis of variance, the Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score for job satisfaction was 3.42±0.45. Among the sub-factors, income had the lowest score (2.67±0.72) and management of delivery had the highest score (3.81±0.66). Job satisfaction was significantly different according to marital status (t=2.25, p=.028), residential area (t=2.43, p=.016), and cause of job satisfaction (F=4.54, p=.012). Job satisfaction showed a significant positive correlation with work performance (r=.29, p<.001) and calling (r=.57, p<.001). The correlation between work performance and calling was also positive and statistically significant (r=.32, p<.001). Purpose and meaning (β=.48, p<.001) and marital status (β=-.15, p=.025) significantly influenced job satisfaction. The model developed in this study explained 45% of variation in job satisfaction. Conclusion: Nurse midwives' job satisfaction may be enhanced by entrusting them with professional roles and tasks. Above all, it is necessary to develop and provide programs that help nurse midwives connect their jobs with the meaning and purpose of their lives.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the perceptions, importance, and performance of midwives' roles among midwives and nurses in Korea. Methods: A descriptive correlational design was employed. Data were collected from 164 nurses and 79 midwives from April 1 to June 25, 2021. Midwives enrolled in the Korean Midwifery Association and nurses and midwives from two hospitals each Daegu and Gyeonggi Province in Korea were invited to participate. The independent t-test, chi-square test, the Welch-Aspin test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for analysis. Results: The midwives' role perception score (3.47±1.46) was lower than that of nurses (3.95±0.85), and the midwives' role performance score (2.98±0.83) was also lower than that of nurses (3.34±0.89). Significant differences were observed between midwives and nurses in their perception and performance of roles related to prenatal management, childbirth management, management of psychological changes, postpartum management, and newborn care. Higher role perception and performance among midwives were linked to the management of psychological changes and women's health, indicating potential areas for future development. Conclusion: The study results suggest directions for developing new roles for midwives. It is necessary to find a way to expand the field of midwives in public health by benchmarking the roles of midwives in various countries.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.89-90
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• 2004

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to understand the meaning of women's experience of spontaneous delivery with midwives at midwifery clinics or home. Methods: van Kaam's Psychophenomenological method composed of a four-stage, 12-step format was used. In-depth interviews were carried out from January to July, 2011, with twelve women. Results: Through the data analysis, 403 significant statements, 172 elements, 48 subcategories, and 19 categories were extracted, and from the 19 categories, 8 themes were drawn. The eight themes were: "Conflict on whether a hospital or a midwifery clinic", "Choosing natural delivery with the assurance of her ability to delivery spontaneously and having trust in the midwives." "Being encouraged by a midwife and family members with one accord", "Experience of the spontaneous delivery process on body", "Comfortable delivery in spite of painful process", "Deeply impressed by the overwhelming joy of birth", "Satisfaction with spontaneous delivery", and "Deeper love among family members". Conclusion: Through this study, women's delivery experiences with midwives was of spontaneous delivery. Women's birth of self-confidence and trust between the midwives and the women to predict a spontaneous delivery is a powerful factor. Also, family support and midwives delicate care was identified as factors in spontaneous delivery.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.65-79
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to figure out a direction for midwifes' expanded roles for integrative woman's health care focused on health promotion & maintenance and primary prevention of women's health disorders including family health in the new millenium as a primary women's health practitioner. Data sources used for analysis were the book published from International Confederation of Midwives including role, code, situation and others from the international aspects : the empirical data from direct contact by participation in the ICM held in Manila, Philipine, May 22-26, 1999 : and documentation of Korean Midwives Association. Historical and current changing perspectives toward woman's health & nurse-midwifery and the reality women's health & nurse-midwifery and the reality of expand role that should be acquired toward the new millenium are discussed. In conclusion, Nurse-midwives are the very primary women's health care providers who can provide not only the exact needs of women who have health related problems, which are developed in the unique socio-cultural context women are belonged to, but also reproductive affairs including labor and delivery as it was midwive's traditional role, not just as practitioner, educator, counselor but conscious raiser for women's right. Futhermore, for this, thorough preparation through various kind of active and contemplated approach such as remodeling roles and education and continuing education system, training for high skilled & technical action, making laws and policy, and others is absolutely required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.583-598
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to investigate the operational status of the midwifery birthing centers (MBCs) and midwives' job status (Phase 1) and to develop midwifery practice guidelines (MPG) (Phase 2) in Korea. Methods: In the first phase, the subjects were 15 midwives who operated 11 of 14 MBCs that were opened as of August 2018. The questionnaire consisted of items to measure the operational status of the MBC and midwives' job status. In the second phase, the MPG was developed from literature review, interviews with five midwives opening their MBCs, surveys with 74 midwives, and a validity evaluation conducted by seven experts. Results: The distribution of operating MBCs was five in Gyunggi-do, two each in Seoul and Incheon, one each in Busan, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeju-do. The mean age of midwives was 54.3 and all were female. In 2017, a total of 762 births including 81 homebirths were performed by midwives. The job performance was highest in the order of neonatal care 3.81, childbirth care 3.56, and postpartal care 3.53, respectively. The MPG included seven areas of prenatal care, childbirth care, postpartal care, neonatal care, primary health care, law/ethics, and administration, with 56 tasks and 166 task elements. Conclusion: This study provides the valid basic data for the operational status of the MBC and the midwives' job status. The MPG describes the midwife's job and may be used as basic data for preparing policies for the development of midwifery practice in Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.255-259
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• 2020

Along with the low birth rate in Korea, the aging of mothers is progressing very rapidly. Recent studies have reported that the obstetric infrastructure is crumbling due to the accelerating closures of obstetric medical institutions resulting from the low birth rate and low reimbursement rates for obstetric procedures. The number of birth centers has also decreased, but women's interest in natural birth has actually increased, such that deliveries at birth centers now account for 11.8% of deliveries in obstetric clinics. In the Netherlands, Japan, and the United Kingdom, initiatives to promote natural birth through care provided by midwives increased the rate of natural births, decreased the number of cesarean sections, and lowered the rate of postpartum complications. In light of these examples, South Korea should also encourage natural delivery by midwives. A national support system for midwife applicants is necessary, and the requirements for institutions that train midwives should be revised. Independent birth centers should have emergency prescription privileges, and women should be given the choice to have a natural delivery by creating birth centers within hospitals.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.195-223
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• 2014

Nurses are medical care providers most closely associated with the national health. Their works are subdivided and specialized, and it is such a factor making nurse's role more important, and with the appearance of specialized nurses, they have secured a position as an independent medical care provider. As the domain of nurse's service becomes broader, there are more accidents and disputes related to nurses. However, there are not many studies conducted on such problems, and even when medical disputes take place related to nurses, the court does not make consistent judgments as a matter of fact. Besides, as the ambiguity of nurse's range of service and the lack of nursing workforce work as a factor causing nurse's medical malpractice, more legal discussions and studies are required to seek proper solutions to such problems. Thus, as a plan to clarify legal issues likely to occur due to nurse's medical practice, this study classified nurse's work into medical assistance practice and other jobs based on their own independent judgments, and proposed establishing concrete regulations on the range of their work, while reviewing common problems extracted from precedents related nurse's medical malpractice. Moreover, while examining Japanese precedents related to the Act of Medical Service Personnel, Nurses and Midwives, which is the sole act of nurses in Japan, this study reviewed the necessity of revising the present nurse-related regulations in Medical Service Act, or enacting a sole act of nurses.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.145-160
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• 2002

The primary purpose of this study was to suggest midwife education programs which could be recognized and exchanged internationally by examining and analyzing both domestic and foreign midwife education programs. The secondary purpose of this study was to offer a plan to raise the level of national examination. Specific aims of this study were as follows: 1) to identify the international standard of the education and practices of midwives 2) to analyze both domestic and foreign midwife education programs 3) to offer a new curriculum for educating midwives 4) to suggest a prerequisite to raise the standards of the national examination 5) to suggest subjects for the national examination The results of this research were as follows: 1. The concept of midwife and midwifery practices recognized internationally by WHO and ICM(International Confederation of Midwives) was identified. In addition, Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice suggested by ACNM(American College of Nurse-Midwives) of the U.S.A. were examined. 2. Midwife education programs of the U.S.A., Sweden, Australia, and Japan were investigated and analyzed. In addition, the midwife education program stated in the public health related law of this country as well as curriculums of institutions for midwife education were also investigated and analyzed. 3. As for the midwife education system, both a graduate program for midwife education in the college of nursing sciences and a postgraduate professional midwife education program centered medical institutions were suggested. 4. A new curriculum that could promote more international exchanges and extend the role of midwives was suggested after studying both domestic and foreign midwife education programs. 5. A prerequisite to raise the level of national examination for midwives was suggested. In addition, subjects for the examination which could evaluate the applicant's comprehensive thinking ability were presented with its respective range and ratio. A midwife is a medical professional who has a nursing license and is licensed nationally as a midwife with an additional year of education. An effort to extend a midwife' role and to improve its service is imperative. The laws related midwives should be revised in regard to education, service, and the national examination to the level of developed countries so that international recognition can take place. In addition, midwife curriculum and its service should be evaluated periodically. A system must be established to renew midwife licences.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1111-1118
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• 2003

Background. A midwife is a medical professional who has a nursing license, and is also licensed as a midwife with one additional year of education. In this globalization era, a midwife's role is increasing in importance for women and children's health care worldwide. Purpose. The primary purpose was to analyze midwifery education programs in Korea and other nations. The secondary purpose was to define strategies to improve midwifery education and practice, and to extend the role of a midwife women and children's health care in Korea. Methods & Results. 1) The definition of a midwife and midwifery practice recognized internationally by World Health Organization (WHO) and International Council of Nurse Midwives (ICNM) was identified. 2) Midwifery education programs of Korea, U.S.A., Sweden, Australia, and Japan, were investigated and discussed. 3) Core competencies for the basic midwifery practice suggested by ACNM of the U.S.A. were reviewed as standard of midwifery practice. 4) As for the midwifery education system, a Masters degree program in a college of nursing is suggested. 5) The role of a midwife includes not only health care of childbirth women and newborn babies, but also a lifelong health care of women as well as her family and children. Conclusion. An effort to extend the midwife's role and to improve service is imperative. The Laws/Acts related to midwives should be revised in regard to education, and practices, and the national examination for midwifery licensure needs revision to qualify for international approval. Also, midwifery curriculum and standards of practice need to be evaluated periodically, and an effective system needs to be established to renew midwife licenses.