Relationship between Professional Autonomy in Nursing and Clinical Occupational Experiences of Midwives Employed in Hospitals
2020 Volume 24 Issue 1 Pages 43-51
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2020 Volume 24 Issue 1 Pages 43-51
The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between professional autonomy in nursing and clinical occupational experiences of midwives employed in hospitals. Anonymous, self-administered questionnaire surveys were distributed by post to 1122 midwives employed in hospitals with delivery facilities in the Tohoku region. Survey contents covered personal attributes, work environment, clinical experience, quality of occupational experience, and professional autonomy in nursing. Relationship with autonomy scores was analyzed using multiple regression analysis.
The response rate was 46.1%, with valid responses from 469 participants (90.5%). The total autonomy score was 167.61 ± 24.61 points and the total work experience evaluation score was 94.47 ± 20.03 points. The five factors influencing increased professional autonomy in nursing among midwives were "experience establishing value standards as a nurse" on the occupational experience evaluation subscale, together with "acquisition of practical nursing abilities and experience in fulfilling various roles", "experience as a shift leader", "number of years' experience as a midwife", and "experience of engaging in research". In addition, approximately 45.6% of midwives working in obstetrics wanted clinical experience outside obstetrics, which may reflect a need for experience in other areas accompanying the increase in high-risk pregnant and parturient women.
When considering career development as a midwife, this study suggests the importance of carrying out continuing education that integrates factors that influence the development of autonomy, namely, "various roles", "shift leader", and "engagement in research", in addition to experience that contributes to confidence in midwifery practice.
