Abstract
Assessing the well-being of postpartum mothers is an important aspect of postnatal nursing care. For this reason, Child Health Nurses (CHNs) are charged with the responsibility of identifying postpartum mothers who do/not manifest resilient behavioral qualities. However, little is known about CHNs’ conceptualization of resilience or how they assess resilience in postpartum mothers. This exemplar study addressed this knowledge shortfall by conducting semi-structured interviews with eight practicing CHNs. The study’s findings reveal that although CHNs’ conceptual understanding of resilience is congruent with current theoretical thinking, some variance does exist in the ways in which CHNs assess postpartum resilience, particularly, in relation to CHNs’ use of intuitive assessment techniques to appraise the critical maternal postpartum coping qualities of adaptation, responsiveness, self-confidence, and social connectedness.
Highlights
Assessing the well-being of postpartum mothers is viewed as an important aspect of postnatal care, especially, if long-term negative mother–infant dyad outcomes are to be avoided (Ayers & Ford, 2009; Broomfield, Lamont, Parker, & Horsfall, 2010; Herrman et al, 2011; Milne, Greenway, & Hansen, 2007)
The most consistently expressed definition of resilience by the Child Health Nurses (CHNs) was the notion that human beings have a survivalorientated ability to rebound from adverse/traumatic experiences
CHNs perceived resilience to be survival-orientated, they expressed an opinion that resilience is recovery-focused
Summary
Assessing the well-being of postpartum mothers is viewed as an important aspect of postnatal care, especially, if long-term negative mother–infant dyad outcomes are to be avoided (Ayers & Ford, 2009; Broomfield, Lamont, Parker, & Horsfall, 2010; Herrman et al, 2011; Milne, Greenway, & Hansen, 2007). During the course of this visit and subsequent home/clinic visits, the CHN conducts an assessment of the mothers’ resilience as well as identifies any situational protective/at-risk factors that may positively/negatively influence the wellbeing of the mother and child (Collins, 2011).This assessment involves screening for postnatal depression, identifying situational problems, developing individualized visitation schedules, and assisting mothers with their postpartum recovery (Beyondblue, 2011; Department of Health Western Australia, 2006). The accessing of this tool is dependent on each nurse’s time, motivation, and determination to source the relevant information. This individualized assessment situation approach contributes to the variation in service delivery practices that many health authorities seek to eradicate
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