Midwives’ Experiences of Applying Critical Thinking in High Risk Situations at Labor Unit: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Critical thinking is an essential skill for being knowledgable about riskfull conditions of midwifery, evaluation of clinical decisions, and a proper care planning for mother and child. This study aimed to explore midwives’ experiences of employing critical thinking in high risk situations in labor unit. Methods: Fourteen bachelor midwives working in labor unit participated in this qualitative content analysis study. They were selected through purposeful sampling method. Data was gathered by individual interviews recorded on audiotapes, transcripted and then analyzed. Interview transcriptions were coded through repeated comparisons with similar groups and then classified. Finally two main categories and eight subcategories were emerged. Results: Analysis of participants’ viewpoints and their sayings about employing critical thinking lead to development of two main categories: “trying to screen high-risk situations among apparently healthy patients” with 5 subcategories, and “trying to diagnose when facing a mother in a high-risk situation” having 3 subcategories. Analysis of findings showed that novice midwives screened high-risk situations relying on their professional knowledge and analyzing the information inductively whereas experienced midwives tried to refer to their intellectual framework deductively based on their previous experiences of managing critical patients. Conclusion: According to the results, it seems necessary to revise and modify the curriculum of midwifery in order to improve critical thinking skill through acquisition of professional knowledge of midwifery and to educate students to manage high-risk cases. Therefore all midwives will acquire critical thinking skill and will be able to screen and diagnose high-risk patients.