Zhou Tianji, Dong Xiangling, Zhang Lei, Chen Wenjun, Zhang Xing, Zhang Jingping, Chen Jia
Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, No.172, Tongzipo Road, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410013, China.
Cardiovascular Surgeon Department, Intensive Care Unit, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
BMC Nurs. 2024 Jul 31;23(1):523. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-02200-8.
Promoting the work adaptation of nurses returning to work after childbirth is key to improving their physical and mental health and ensuring the quality of nursing care. Although postpartum nurses have reported high work stress and poor adaptation after returning to work, little is known regarding the experiences, problems and further needs. This study aimed to explore the adaptation experiences of postpartum nurses returning to work.
This was a qualitative study with descriptive phenomenological approach. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and May 2023 in four tertiary hospitals in Changsha, mainland China, which were selected using convenience sampling. A total of 16 postpartum nurses returning to work within one year were recruited using purposive sampling and maximum variation sampling. The interviews were analysed using the Colaizzi's 7-step method.
'Breakdown and healing' is a strong thread in postpartum nurses' work adaptation. It links 13 subthemes in the interview data, which can be grouped under three overarching themes: (a) changes and challenges of multiple roles; (b) self-coping and social support; and (c) further needs after returning to work. The phrase 'breakdown and healing' reflects the mutual relationship between stress and coping among postpartum nurses. The changes and challenges associated with being required to fulfil multiple roles of mothers, wives and nurses make the subjects feel on the verge of 'breakdown'. When returning to work, most of them move slowly towards 'healing' through positive self-management and support from their partners, families, supervisors and colleagues. Moreover, their ongoing demands and unsolved problems - such as their desire for a workplace that is friendly and serves their needs - were generated by the constant process of 'breakdown and healing'.
Understanding how postpartum nurses returning to work perceive adaptation experiences is essential for nursing managers, who can use the findings to implement targeted measures to shorten postpartum nurses' maladaptation period after returning to work and promote their work adaptation. This study underscores the critical importance of personalized return-to-work training, flexible work arrangements, support from colleagues and managers, well-established maternal facilities and services, and targeted policy efforts in enhancing postpartum nurses' work adaptation.
促进产后回归工作岗位的护士的工作适应能力，是改善其身心健康及确保护理质量的关键。尽管产后护士报告称工作压力大且回归工作后适应不良，但对于她们的经历、问题及进一步需求却知之甚少。本研究旨在探讨产后回归工作岗位的护士的适应经历。
这是一项采用描述性现象学方法的定性研究。于2023年3月至5月间，在中国内地长沙的四家三级医院采用便利抽样法进行了个体半结构式访谈。采用目的抽样法和最大差异抽样法，共招募了16名在一年内回归工作岗位的产后护士。访谈采用Colaizzi的七步法进行分析。
“崩溃与治愈”是产后护士工作适应过程中的一条主线。它将访谈数据中的13个副主题联系起来，这些副主题可归为三个总体主题：（a）多重角色的变化与挑战；（b）自我应对与社会支持；（c）回归工作后的进一步需求。“崩溃与治愈”这一表述反映了产后护士压力与应对之间的相互关系。履行母亲、妻子和护士多重角色所带来的变化和挑战，使研究对象感到处于“崩溃”边缘。回归工作后，她们中的大多数人通过积极的自我管理以及伴侣、家人、上级和同事的支持，慢慢走向“治愈”。此外，她们持续存在的需求和未解决的问题——比如她们对一个友好且能满足其需求的工作场所的渴望——是由持续的“崩溃与治愈”过程产生的。
了解产后回归工作岗位的护士如何看待适应经历，对护理管理者至关重要，他们可利用这些研究结果实施针对性措施，以缩短产后护士回归工作后的适应不良期，并促进其工作适应。本研究强调了个性化的重返工作培训、灵活的工作安排、同事和管理者的支持、完善的母婴设施和服务以及针对性的政策措施在增强产后护士工作适应能力方面的至关重要性。
