Question

After your graduation, you will be in an academic or clinical field. Depending on your field choice, discuss one nursing theory and identify the effect the implications of this theory could have on nursing administration, management, or education.

Answer 1

Clinical Nurse in maternity ward encounters postnatal mothers for whom the preparation and adaptation to new role change becomes a necessity.One most crucial relationship in human dynamics is the relationship between a mother and her child.Child birth is a stressful events in the life of the mother and the family as a whole and anything that requires change creates a stressful and challanging event for them,especially for the newly promoted mother,it is therefore wise and advisable to help the mother or parent to prepare them for their new role as the nurse can foster the mother-child bond most effectively within the parameters determined by current health care practice and provider constraints.Keping in view of this the theory name "Maternal Role Attainment a Theory of Ramona Mercer"can be referred to as a guidance by the nurse to review and prepare.

Maternal Role Attainment Theory is a model describing the processes through which a woman develops maternal identity and bonds with her child. Mercer first developed the theory to provide a framework for implementing the nursing process in the care of non-traditional mothers covering adoptive or foster mothers or those who were unexpectedly thrust into a mothering role (for example, through the illness or death of a family member.) However, the model also provides a framework by which nurses can assess, prioritize and address the needs of all new mothers, especially those who are dealing with unusual stressors, such as a sick infant, personal health issues, financial difficulties, postpartum depression or a lack of psychosocial support.

The theory discusses the following main concepts:

1. Commitment, Attachment and Preparation: This stage concerns with pre natal care and preparation of child birth,therefore the nurse should identify and discuss the issues relating to physiological and psychological changes that occcurs during pregnancy.
2. Acquaintance, Learning and Physical Restoration Stage: This mostly covers the child birth and the adaptation to the physical changes that are likely to be encountered by the mother and the adoption or bringing a new child into the home.In this stage the new mother adapts to her role by modeling learned behaviors and conforming closely to social and family norms.The nurse can listen and advice the mother in topics to the pros and cons of the traditional practices and encourage the good habits or practices and explain the procedures involved in scientifically proven necessity like breast feeding techniques etc.
3. Moving towards a New Normal:The mother in this stage feels comfortable about the decision-making and mothering skills.The nurse can encourage and reinforce the skills and practices of the mother which are benefical for them and assess to identify the need whenever necessary.Being a clinical nurse the nurse can take the information when the mother comes for re-visit or immunization.
4. Achievement of Maternal Identity: In this stage the mother successfully integrated prior learning with personal experience. She feels more confident, competent, and accomplished in her role and begins to fully experience the joy of motherhood and secure attachment to the child.

For these role to be attained several factors are considered which includes the relationship and support between the couple ,family members ,society and care takers.Therefore the factors should be kept in view in taking care of the mother through the hospital stay.

Implications of the theory on

• Nursing administration and management:

The theory provides the framework to assess the performance and management of the ward in relation to the overall ward management and also gives a guideline to evaluate the performance of the ward staffs.

•   Education:

This theory involves the care of mother from the early pregnancy state therefore it demands requirement of the knowledge ,attitude and skill necessary by the curriculum and as a student nurse to posess to co-relate between theory and practical. It can bring about performance and academic excellence in handling the patient and enhancing their learning.