Enhancing the professional dignity of midwives in an academic tertiary hospital

Abstract

Introduction and background: The professional dignity of midwives is determined by their own perspectives of the contribution that they make to the optimal care of patients, the respect that they get from other members of the health team and the support that hospital management gives them. When midwives are not treated with respect and their professional competencies are not recognised, their professional dignity is violated.

Aim of the study: The study aims to explore and describe how the professional dignity of midwives in the selected hospital can be enhanced.

Methodology: A descriptive phenomenological research design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted once informed consent was obtained with purposively selected participants until data saturation occurred. At least 15 midwives from the antenatal, postnatal and delivery rooms of the selected hospital were interviewed. The interviews were audio-recorded with the permission of the participants and analysed through the method of Giorgi (1997:247). The essence of the phenomenon and the supporting constituents (themes) were identified. The essence and constituents will be described and thereafter the constituents will be discussed. Applicable literature was used to integrate the findings in the knowledge base of the phenomenon.

Findings: The purpose of the research study was to explore how the professional dignity of midwives in the selected hospital can be enhanced. The essence (meaning) of the participants’ experiences was disclosed as: To dignify midwives in an academic tertiary hospital. The essence is supported by the following constituents (meaning units): ‘to acknowledge the capabilities of midwives’, ‘to appreciate interventions of midwives’, ‘to perceive midwives as equal health team members’, ‘to invest in midwives’, ‘to enhance collegiality’, ‘to be cared for by management’ and ‘to create conducive environments’.