Maternity and Critical Care: A Qualitative Survey of the Experience of Nurse Mothers

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.

To explore and understand the meaning of the lived experiences of nurse mothers returning to critical care work in the Italian context.

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.

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.

Nurse mothers in critical care face both vulnerability and resilience. Inclusive organizational policies and structured return-to-work programs are urgently needed.