Archetypes of Power: Navigating Dynamics of the Labor Room
- Duration: 60 Mins
- Credits: 1 CERP, 1 R-CERP, 1 Nurse Contact Hours, 1 CME, 0.1 Midwifery CEU, 1 ACM CPD Hours
- Handout: Yes
Abstract:
Beneath the surface of every labor and delivery room interaction between physicians, nurses, and patients (as well as their partners) vibrate the pressures of power. Who is in charge? Regardless of the stated beliefs or legal truth about who IS in charge, the dance between the characters in the labor room often plays out archetypally. Archetypes are a recurrent symbol or motif found in literature, art, or mythology that live within the unconscious influencing how individuals behave, think, and feel. While many archetypal energies are possible during labor, the dominant archetypal energies active in a labor room tend to vacillate between that of Caretaker, Orphan, Ruler, Hero, Innocent, and Warrior. Nurses, often drawn to the career to help others, connect with the Caretaker archetype. However, due in part to hierarchical structures within the hospital setting, nurses can be left feeling unseen, undervalued, or powerless activating the Orphan archetype. Comparable patterns can be observed in obstetricians with the Ruler and Hero and in parents with the Innocent and Warrior archetypes. Without consciousness of the power dynamics between these archetypal energies, satisfaction in both the process and outcome is often fleeting for parents and can lead to burnout in professionals. Greater understanding of the needs of each activated archetype provides individuals needed guidance in how to better navigate labor room power dynamics and why doing so matters profoundly.
Learning Objectives:
1. Following this Session, participants will be able to describe the impact power dynamics in the labor room negatively impact outcomes for birthing families
2. Following this Session, participants will be able to list archetypes active in the labor room.
3. Following this Session, participants will be able to apply 3 new tools for responding to labor room dynamics.