THE ESSENCE OF NURSE-MIDWIFERY CARE - THE WOMANS STORY

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to discover the exp erience of the woman cared for by a nurse-midwife. Six Variously situa ted and ethnically diverse women were interviewed about their experien ce with nurse-midwifery care. Using Colaizzi's phenomenological method , the data were analyzed extracting 151 significant statements that we re clustered into nine themes. A picture of the essential structure of the women's experience of nurse-midwifery care unfolded and was retur ned to them for their comments and confirmation. Women talked about a relationship built on respect, trust, and alliance. It was the nurse-m idwife herself, her qualities and behaviors, her concern and caring, a nd her respect for women that laid the foundation for how the women in this study perceived the experience. Repeatedly, women articulated th e respect for their time, their families, their fears, and their need for information. Ultimately, it was this respect from the nurse-midwif e that empowered the women to determine and direct their care.