PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY IN MIDWIFERY

Abstract

Professionalism is defined as "the service conducted by highly educated professionals, prepared to use their knowledge and skills in the interests of others, adhered to ethical standards, and supported by relevant professional organizations."
 Professionalism affects both the individual and the society. The development of professionalism in a professional group provides quality service delivery to the community while the strengthening of professional identities for professional members.
 Midwifery; women are an important professional group because of its role in child, family and community health. Thus, it is important for the maternity profession that provides the health and well-being of the community, to choose a conscious and optional career. To do this, professional informations must be made to students who will make college choices. It is necessary to organize seminars on the development of professional midwifery identity, to identify and identify factors affecting their professionalism, in which midwifery students are taught about values and ethics during the course of education and training.
 In Turkey, there are factors that result in parents becoming embroiled in professional identity. The most significant cause of this confusion is due to legal regulations concerning the duties of midwives with different duties and responsibilities from nurses, but there are still ongoing complexities between the two professional groups in the workplace. The work of midwives in non-professional areas causes identity confusion and negatively affects their role as professionals. In this context, it is recommended to carry out more cross-sectional and experimental studies that will enable the development of professional identities of midwives.