Background: Returning to work after maternity leave is a critical transition for nurses, especially in critical care units, where intense workloads and clinical responsibilities may conflict with family needs. Aim: To explore and understand the meaning of the lived experiences of nurse mothers returning to critical care work in the Italian context. Methods: Qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Snowball sampling; 12 nurse mothers with at least one year of post-partum work were interviewed through semi-structured interviews (45-60 minutes). Data were manually analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), with researcher triangulation and member checking. Informed consent was obtained. Results: Four main themes emerged: work-family conflict; informal vs. organizational support; redefinition of professional identity; coping strategies. Nurses reported emotional strain, lack of institutional support, and reliance on personal coping mechanisms. Conclusions: Nurse mothers in critical care face both vulnerability and resilience. Inclusive organizational policies and structured return-to-work programs are urgently needed.
Maternity and Critical Care: A Qualitative Survey of the Experience of Nurse Mothers
Gioiello, Giovanni;Marino, Alessandro;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Background: Returning to work after maternity leave is a critical transition for nurses, especially in critical care units, where intense workloads and clinical responsibilities may conflict with family needs. Aim: To explore and understand the meaning of the lived experiences of nurse mothers returning to critical care work in the Italian context. Methods: Qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Snowball sampling; 12 nurse mothers with at least one year of post-partum work were interviewed through semi-structured interviews (45-60 minutes). Data were manually analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), with researcher triangulation and member checking. Informed consent was obtained. Results: Four main themes emerged: work-family conflict; informal vs. organizational support; redefinition of professional identity; coping strategies. Nurses reported emotional strain, lack of institutional support, and reliance on personal coping mechanisms. Conclusions: Nurse mothers in critical care face both vulnerability and resilience. Inclusive organizational policies and structured return-to-work programs are urgently needed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
