Nursing theories and models are important in clinical nursing practice as they are the
backbone at the core of how knowledge is used and applied in clinical practice (Kim, 2012).
Nursing theories formulate orientations, attitudes, and commitments to the fundamental nursing
practice features that influence how nursing is practiced in all clinical situations. Evaluating a
nursing model or theory is essential to determine what method works best for their specialized
nursing model. Therefore, I work in the labor and delivery department, Ramona Mercer's
maternal role Attainment-Becoming a Mother theory (Meighan, 2017). The paper will discuss
Mercer's theory regarding framework, perspectives, real-world, hands-on situations, and
influences in research and nursing interventions.
Mercer's theoretical framework consists of four meta paradigms of individuals,
environment, nursing, and health. In this case, the individual is the mother, who forms a bond
with the infants and interacts with the father and other family members. The nurse also becomes
an important being in a mother's life as she interacts with the mother by offering motherhood
care, education, and advice for lifelong effect. The environment is comprised of family, the
hospital, and the interrelationships the mother has with family and friends. Finally, health refers
to the mother's mental and physical health status for the newborn baby's safety.
The perspectives associated with Mercer's theory-Becoming a Mother are in four stages-
the anticipatory stage, when the mother gives birth, the informal stage, and the last stage is
personal (Rossman et al., 2015). These stages are crucial because motherhood's journey starts
when the mother anticipates when she gets pregnant and accepts it. The anticipation stages are all
about being psychological and socially ready, then develop into a fantasy of becoming a good
EVALUATING A NURSING MODEL 3
mother and all the roles a mother is expected to do. When the mother gives birth and is labeled a
mother, she begins her role as a mother by taking care of her newborn guided by her social
system. When a mother starts exploring her motherhood perspectives, the informal stage uses her
knowledge to raise the kid. At this stage, the mother does things she thinks are good for her
child. Lastly, the unique stage sets in, and the mother is happy, satisfied, confident, and the
attachment between her and the child has grown.
Mercer's theory-Becoming a Mother theory is easy to use in our everyday nursing
practice, especially for nurses practicing obstetrics. Many mothers pose questions to nurses on
what will happen to them during labor and how well the delivery will be. She receives the kind
of care for any pregnant patient who visits the hospital-based on Mercer's theory-Becoming a
Mother. It helps the patient transform into her real-life role of being a mother. The nurse applies
all the stages of maternal role attainment-becoming a mother theory to develop a patient's plan of
care for safe delivery.
Mercer's theory, maternal role attainment-becoming a mother theory, has guided many
researchers in becoming mothers. Research is usually conducted based on the mother's
experiences and the role she plays. According to Mercer, she understood that simply delivering a
child does not make you a mother. Still, motherhood entails different variables that occur after
childbirth, and these factors can affect the bond between the mother and child. There are various
factors such as the mother's age, infant variables, the mother's and child's health status, the child's
responsiveness, and the mother's delivery experience that influences the research.
The role of Mercer's theory is guiding the mother into embracing motherhood and her
role as well. The main interventions required for this theory to become effective are education,
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provision of care, and nurse's advice and encouragement as she interacts with the mother. The
most crucial intervention of motherhood experience is to place the baby skin to skin with the
mother after delivery to enhance bonding and breastfeeding efforts (Anderzén-Carlsson et al.,
2014). Interventions are needed to help the mother and child bond and stay healthy and handle
multiple barriers and stresses in attaining the maternal role. Since the theory is an evolving
theory, the mother and child can go home to process the journey up to a one-year's duration.
Other interventions are then put in place to help guide the mother; she may receive continuous
child education and encouragement. The hospital puts in place programs to enable new-mothers
to embrace their role. The nurses may even make rounds in the mother's homes to assess the
environment and guide them. Mercer's theory- maternal role attainment-Becoming a Mother
theory is consistent in fully evaluating and educating mothers to embrace their role in
motherhood.
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References
Anderzén-Carlsson, A. L. (2014). Parental experiences of providing skin-to-skin care to their
newborn infant—Part 2: a qualitative meta-synthesis. International journal of qualitative
studies on health and well-being, 9(1), 24907.
Kim, H. S. (2012). The role of theory in clinical nursing practice. Klinisk Sygepleje, 26(2), 16-
19.
Meighan, M. (2017). Maternal role attainment—Becoming a mother. Nursing Theorists and
Their Work-E-Book, 432.
Rossman, B. G. (2015). The role of peer support in the development of maternal identity for
“NICU moms.” Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic