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552 UNIT V Middle Range Nursing Theories

the nurse learns that the only living grandparents
CASE STUDY
of the baby live a great distance away. Susan will
Susan, a 19-year-old woman, delivered her first not have any family or friends to turn to when she
infant prematurely 5 days ago. Although her post- takes the baby home.
partum course has been relatively uneventful, the In this high-risk perinatal case, Mercer’s frame-
infant has had difficulty and must remain hospital- work should be useful for nursing assessment and
ized. Susan and her young husband visit the nurs- intervention to facilitate maternal role attainment.
ery every afternoon to be with the baby, but they How would you use it as a guide in planning care
ask very few questions. In talking with the couple, for Susan?

CRITICAL THINKING ACTIVITIES

1. In your own practice, consider Mercer’s Theory address current changes in health care delivery
and Model of Maternal Role Attainment as a and the impact on the family? What changes in
guide. List the ways it was useful to you in the Mercer’s model, if any, do you see that need to be
care of a new mother. addressed?
2. High-risk families often continue to experience 4. Mercer proposed changing her theory from
problems for years after the birth of a child with a Maternal Role Attainment to Becoming a
congenital problem. Can Mercer’s theory be Mother to address the evolving role of mother-
adapted to help in assessment and intervention hood. Do you agree or disagree with this
for these mothers and their families beyond the change? Is it possible that becoming a mother
first year? What areas need further research and and attaining the maternal role are both relevant
development? to the theory and nursing care of new mothers/
3. Consider the current health care environment. families in the clinical setting?
Does the model proposed by Mercer adequately

POINTS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Publications Websites
n Mercer, R.T. (2004) Becoming a mother versus n Nurses for Nurses Everywhere. (2004). Nurse
maternal role attainment. Journal of Nursing information: Ramona T. Mercer. Melbourne,
Scholarship, 36(3), 226–232. Australia, at: http://www.nurses.info/nursing_
n Mercer, R. T. (2006). Nursing support of the theory_midrange_theories_ramona_mercer.htm.
process of becoming a mother. Journal of n Nurses for Nurses Everywhere. (2004). Nurse
Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, information: Reva Rubin. Melbourne, Australia,
35(5), 649–651. at: http://www.nurses.info/nursing_theory_
n Mercer, R. T., & Walker, L. O. (2006). A review of midrange_theories_reva_rubin.htm.
nursing interventions to foster becoming a mother. n University of New Mexico Past Distinguished
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Alumni Award: Ramona Mercer at: http://nursing.
Nursing, 35(5), 568–582. unm.edu/alumni-and-friends/daa-profiles/ramona-
n Meighan, M. (2010). Mercer’s maternal role the- mercer.html.
ory and nursing practice. In M. R. Alligood (Ed.), n Word press at: http://khaelashofieananta.wordpress.
Nursing theory: Utilization & application (4th ed., com/2011/11/02/nursing-theory-ramona-t-mercer/.
pp. 389–410). St. Louis: Mosby.