Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study

Background: Midwifery has developed its own philosophy to formalise its unique identity as a profession. Newly-graduated midwives are taught, and ideally embrace, this philosophy during their education. However, embarking in their career within a predominantly institutionalised and the medically foc...

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Main Authors: Barry, Michele, Hauck, Yvonne, O'Donoghue, T., Clarke, S.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Churchill Livingstone 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7828
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author Barry, Michele
Hauck, Yvonne
O'Donoghue, T.
Clarke, S.
author_facet Barry, Michele
Hauck, Yvonne
O'Donoghue, T.
Clarke, S.
author_sort Barry, Michele
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Midwifery has developed its own philosophy to formalise its unique identity as a profession. Newly-graduated midwives are taught, and ideally embrace, this philosophy during their education. However, embarking in their career within a predominantly institutionalised and the medically focused health-care model may challenge this application. Question and aim: The research question guiding this study was as follows: ‘How do newly graduated midwives deal with applying the philosophy of midwifery in their first six months of practice?’ The aim was to generate a grounded theory around this social process. Method: This Western Australian grounded theory study is conceptualised within the social theory of symbolic interactionism. Data were collected by means of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 11 recent midwifery graduates. Participant and interviewer's journals provided supplementary data. The ‘constant comparison’ approach was used for data analysis. Theory generated: The substantive theory of transcending barriers was generated. Three stages in transcending barriers were identified: Addressing personal attributes, Understanding the ‘bigger picture’, and finally, ‘Evaluating, planning and acting’ to provide woman-centred care. An overview of these three stages provides the focus of this article. Conclusion: The theory of transcending barriers provides a new perspective on how newly-graduated midwives deal with applying the philosophy of midwifery in their first six months of practice. A number of implications for pre and post registration midwifery education and policy development are suggested, as well as recommendations for future research.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-78282017-09-13T14:33:46Z Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study Barry, Michele Hauck, Yvonne O'Donoghue, T. Clarke, S. Grounded theory Graduate Transition Midwifery Background: Midwifery has developed its own philosophy to formalise its unique identity as a profession. Newly-graduated midwives are taught, and ideally embrace, this philosophy during their education. However, embarking in their career within a predominantly institutionalised and the medically focused health-care model may challenge this application. Question and aim: The research question guiding this study was as follows: ‘How do newly graduated midwives deal with applying the philosophy of midwifery in their first six months of practice?’ The aim was to generate a grounded theory around this social process. Method: This Western Australian grounded theory study is conceptualised within the social theory of symbolic interactionism. Data were collected by means of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 11 recent midwifery graduates. Participant and interviewer's journals provided supplementary data. The ‘constant comparison’ approach was used for data analysis. Theory generated: The substantive theory of transcending barriers was generated. Three stages in transcending barriers were identified: Addressing personal attributes, Understanding the ‘bigger picture’, and finally, ‘Evaluating, planning and acting’ to provide woman-centred care. An overview of these three stages provides the focus of this article. Conclusion: The theory of transcending barriers provides a new perspective on how newly-graduated midwives deal with applying the philosophy of midwifery in their first six months of practice. A number of implications for pre and post registration midwifery education and policy development are suggested, as well as recommendations for future research. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7828 10.1016/j.midw.2012.12.016 Churchill Livingstone restricted
spellingShingle Grounded theory
Graduate
Transition
Midwifery
Barry, Michele
Hauck, Yvonne
O'Donoghue, T.
Clarke, S.
Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study
title Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study
title_full Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study
title_fullStr Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study
title_full_unstemmed Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study
title_short Newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: A grounded theory study
title_sort newly-graduated midwives transcending barriers: a grounded theory study
topic Grounded theory
Graduate
Transition
Midwifery
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7828