This study was done to develop a digital textbook for students to use over the internet for maternity nursing practice. The textbook is not only for student nurses, but also for nurse midwives and nurses working in the maternity. The process used was as follows; 1.Existing educational media on maternity nursing were reviewed and examined. 2.Workshops and meetings were held to decide the most appropriate type of presentation. 3. The digital content including text, pictures, audios, and videos were developed using Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premier. 4.Revisions were made recursively as the content was previewed and implemented over the internet by professionals and the end-users. 5. A database of members and a web survey module were developed and posted. The clinical implication of a digital textbook over the internet is the possibility of using it to educate many student nurses throughout the country and to disseminate the content for whoever needs it in practice settings and facilities. Another implication is that this site stressed interactivity by developing member database and web survey. In conclusion, the study found this first trial of digital textbook to be a unique educational media for nursing skills practice. Further refinement of this media is strongly recommended.
Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Internet* ; Maternal-Child Nursing* ; Nurse Midwives ; Nursing Care* ; Nursing* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: This study was to understand the meaning of women's experience of spontaneous delivery with midwives at midwifery clinics or home. METHODS: van Kaam's Psychophenomenological method composed of a four-stage, 12-step format was used. In-depth interviews were carried out from January to July, 2011, with twelve women. RESULTS: Through the data analysis, 403 significant statements, 172 elements, 48 subcategories, and 19 categories were extracted, and from the 19 categories, 8 themes were drawn. The eight themes were: "Conflict on whether a hospital or a midwifery clinic", "Choosing natural delivery with the assurance of her ability to delivery spontaneously and having trust in the midwives." "Being encouraged by a midwife and family members with one accord", "Experience of the spontaneous delivery process on body", "Comfortable delivery in spite of painful process", "Deeply impressed by the overwhelming joy of birth", "Satisfaction with spontaneous delivery", and "Deeper love among family members". CONCLUSION: Through this study, women's delivery experiences with midwives was of spontaneous delivery. Women's birth of self-confidence and trust between the midwives and the women to predict a spontaneous delivery is a powerful factor. Also, family support and midwives delicate care was identified as factors in spontaneous delivery.
Female ; Humans ; Love ; Midwifery* ; Natural Childbirth ; Nurse Midwives ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Qualitative Research ; Statistics as Topic

Han Shin Gwang, born in an early Christian family in Korea in 1902, could get western education different from the ordinary Korean girls in that period. She participated in the 1919 Samil Independence Movement in her teens, and got nursing and midwifery education in a missionary hospital. She got a midwife license and worked as a member in an early mother-and-child health center. She organized 'Korean Nurses' Association' in 1924 and focused on public health movement as the chairwoman. She actively participated in women's movement organizations, and Gwangjoo Student's Movement. She was known to be a representative of leading working women, and wrote articles on woman's right, the needs and works of nurses and midwives. From late Japanese colonial period, she opened her own clinic and devoted herself to midwifery. After the Korean Liberation in 1945, she began political movement and went in for a senate election. During the Korean War, she founded a shelter for mothers and children in help. After the War, she reopened a midwifery clinic and devoted to the works of Korean Midwives' Association. Han Shin Gwang's life and works belong to the first generation of Korean working women in modern times. She actively participated in women's movement, nurses' and midwives professional movement, Korea liberation movement, and mother-and-child health movement for 60 years. Her life is truly exemplary as one of the first generation of working women in modern Korea, distinguished of devotion and calling.
Women's Rights/history ; Nurse Midwives/history ; Midwifery/*history ; Maternal-Child Health Centers/history ; Korea ; Humans ; History, 20th Century ; History of Nursing

PURPOSE: This paper analyzed alternative methods of calculating the conversion factor for nurse-midwife's delivery services in the national health insurance and estimated the optimal reimbursement level for the services. METHODS: A cost accounting model and Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) model were developed to estimate the conversion factor of Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) for nurse-midwife's services, depending on the scope of revenue considered in financial analysis. The data and sources from the government and the financial statements from nurse-midwife clinics were used in analysis. RESULTS: The cost accounting model and SGR model showed a 17.6-37.9% increase and 19.0-23.6% increase, respectively, in nurse-midwife fee for delivery services in the national health insurance. The SGR model measured an overall trend of medical expenditures rather than an individual financial status of nurse-midwife clinics, and the cost analysis properly estimated the level of reimbursement for nurse-midwife's services. CONCLUSION: Normal vaginal delivery in nurse-midwife clinics is considered cost-effective in terms of insurance financing. Upon a declining share of health expenditures on midwife clinics, designing a reimbursement strategy for midwife's services could be an opportunity as well as a challenge when it comes to efficient resource allocation.
Costs and Cost Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Insurance, Health, Reimbursement/*economics ; Korea ; National Health Programs/*economics ; Nurse Midwives/*economics ; Pregnancy ; *Relative Value Scales

There is a decrease in the number of new midwives, resulting from the shutdown of midwifery education program in hospitals due to a decrease in birthrate in the Republic of Korea. To solve this problem, the current medical laws on midwifery education system in Korea should be revised; nurse-midwifery specialist programs must be established in educational institutes with nursing programs. To support this argument, the midwifery education programs of America, Europe, Australia, and Japan have been discussed, and a nurse-midwifery specialist curriculum at the master's level, based on the nurse-practitioner system of Korea, has been suggested. Since this assertion is very important and urgent for solving the future population problem of Korea and providing health care for women and children, it should be realized into action immediately.
Academies and Institutes ; Americas ; Australia ; Child ; Curriculum ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education* ; Europe ; Female ; Humans ; Japan ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Midwifery ; Nurse Midwives* ; Nursing ; Republic of Korea ; Specialization

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of Taegyo-focused prenatal classes on maternal-fetal attachment and self-efficacy related to childbirth. METHODS: Over 4 weeks, 49 women, 20 to 36 weeks of gestation participated in a prenatal program led by the nurse who developed it. In addition to Lamaze content it included; understanding ability of fetus to respond, sharing motivation, purpose of pregnancy, and preconceptions of experiencing childbirth, training in maternal- fetal interaction, writing letters and making a declaration of love to unborn baby. Using a pre- experimental design, data were collected by self-report, before and after program, using Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (1981), and Shin's (1997) Labor Self-Efficacy Measurement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Paired t-test showed significant changes in scores of maternal-fetal attachment (t=6.91. p<.001) and self-efficacy related to childbirth (t=10.19, p<.001). Taegyo opens the possibility of integrating Western ideas with Korean traditional health behavior. Incorporation of Taegyo into existing prenatal classes is recommended.
Adult ; Attitude to Health/ethnology ; Curriculum ; Female ; Health Education/organization & administration ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Love ; Maternal-Child Nursing/organization & administration ; Maternal-Fetal Relations/*ethnology ; *Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; *Mothers/education/psychology ; Motivation ; Nurse Midwives/organization & administration ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Object Attachment ; Parturition/*ethnology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care/*organization & administration ; Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; *Self Efficacy ; Writing