2021 Volume 25 Issue 1 Pages 85-95
Objectives: As the concept of community medicine is being formulated, restructuring of maternal-fetal medicine with declining birth rate is an issue that cannot be avoided. This study aimed to clarify the transition experience of midwives who faced organizational transition.
Methods: We used a qualitative descriptive study method to conduct a semi-structured interview with eight midwives who continued to work at a new hospital after organizational changes on choices and future outlooks associated with maternal-fetal medicine restructuring. Subsequently, the data of meaningful narratives was classified and coded to identify topics.
Results and discussion: The transition experience of midwives who experienced maternal-fetal medicine restructuring consisted of 4 topics, 11 categories, and 34 subcategories. The four topics indicated the following processes: "awareness of the end," "conflicting thoughts regarding a new system," "confusion about the difference between expectations and reality," and "awareness of responsibility to build the foundation."
The transition experience of midwives initiated with experiencing distress from the lack of reality and sense of satisfaction while being aware of the old system's culmination. Without adequate reintegration of the identity, the midwives were determined to terminate the old system and build a new system. They felt unexpected emotions toward the system after the restructuring and experienced confusion with the lack of preparation and knowledge. However, they earnestly took on the challenge of fulfilling their responsibility in establishing the new system and promoting the potential transition process from awareness of the sense of solidarity with staff and patients.
