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CHAPTER 27 Ramona T. Mercer 543

studying the paternal response to parenthood. Her • Maternal identity develops concurrently with
research required numerous instruments to measure maternal attachment, and each depends on the
the variables of interest. other (Mercer, 1995; Rubin, 1977).
Mercer has studied the influence of these variables
on parental attachment and competence over several Nursing
intervals, including the immediate postpartum period Mercer (1995) stated that “Nurses are the health pro-
and 1 month, 4 months, 8 months, and 1 year follow- fessionals having the most sustained and intense inter-
ing birth (Mercer & Ferketich, 1990a, 1990b). In addi- action with women in the maternity cycle” (p. xii).
tion, she has included adolescents, older mothers, ill Nurses are responsible for promoting the health of
mothers, mothers dealing with congenital defects, families and children; nurses are pioneers in develop-
families experiencing antepartal stress, parents at high ing and sharing assessment strategies for these patients,
risk, mothers who had cesarean deliveries, and fathers she explained. Her definition of nursing provided in
in her research (Mercer, 1989; Mercer & Ferketich, a personal communication is as follows:
1994, 1995; Mercer, Ferketich, & DeJoseph, 1993). As Nursing is a dynamic profession with three major
a recent step, she compared her findings and the basis foci: health promotion and prevention of illness,
for her original theory with current research. As a providing care for those who need professional
result, Mercer (2004) has proposed that the term assistance to achieve their optimal level of health
maternal role attainment be replaced with becoming a and functioning, and research to enhance the
mother, because this more accurately describes the knowledge base for providing excellent nursing
continued evolvement of the role across the woman’s care. Nurses provide health care for individuals,
life span. In addition, she proposed using more recent families, and communities. Following assessment
nursing research findings to describe the stages and of the client’s situation and environment, the
process of becoming a mother.
nurse identifies goals with the client, provides
assistance to the client through teaching, support-
Major Assumptions ing, providing care the client is unable to provide
For maternal role attainment, Mercer (1981, 1986a, for self, and interfacing with the environment
and the client
1995) stated the following assumptions: (R. Mercer, personal communication,
• A relatively stable core self, acquired through life- March 21, 2004).
long socialization, determines how a mother defines
and perceives events; her perceptions of her infant’s In her writing, Mercer (1995) refers to the impor-
and others’ responses to her mothering, with her life tance of nursing care. In Becoming a Mother: Research
situation, are the real world to which she responds on Maternal Identity from Rubin to the Present, Mercer
(Mercer, 1986a). does not specifically mention nursing care, however
• In addition to the mother’s socialization, her devel- she emphasizes that the kind of help or care a woman
opmental level and innate personality characteristics receives during pregnancy and the first year following
also influence her behavioral responses (Mercer, birth can have long-term effects for her and her child.
1986a). Nurses in maternal-child settings play a sizable role
• The mother’s role partner, her infant, will reflect in providing both care and information during this
the mother’s competence in the mothering role period.
through growth and development (Mercer, 1986a).
• The infant is considered an active partner in the Person
maternal role-taking process, affecting and being Mercer (1985a) does not specifically define person,
affected by the role enactment (Mercer, 1981). but refers to the self or core self. She views the self
• The father’s or mother’s intimate partner contributes as separate from the roles that are played. Through
to role attainment in a way that cannot be duplicated maternal individuation, a woman may regain her own
by any other supportive person (Mercer, 1995). personhood as she extrapolates herself from the