The purpose oft his study was to use phenomenological perspectives to identify the meaning and structure of the observational experience of labor and delivery by student nurses in the clinical setting. The participants were 115 junior and senior students from Christian College of Nursing in Kwang Ju. The students were asked to write about their observational experience in the delivery room. Colaizzi's method was used for phenomenological analysis. The investigator analysed the data to identify and categorize themes and basic structural elements. Twelve themes and eight basic structure were identified. The process of the observational experience in labor and delivery has three proposed phases : anticipatory, observational and post-observational In the anticipatory phase nursing students were related only to the event of anticipated labor and delivery of clients. Structure 1, feeling of expectation and fear, was identified In the observational phase, students were related to the labor and delivery situation, a woman delivered and a newborn. Structure 2, shock and suffering, was identified in relation to the labor and delivery situation. Structure 3, need for caring and satisfaction, was identified in relation to the woman delivered. Structure 4, feeling of mystery and joy, was identified in relation to the newborn. In the post-observational phase, relations between students and the life of a human being, students and self in the future, students and their mothers and students and women and God appeared. and in these relations, , and were identified.

Women's experience of abortion are not only widespread but also significant event in their lives. But this experience has not been a concern for professional care by health care providers, especially nurses. As professional nurses should have holistic approaches to clients, need to understand the lived experience of abortion from women's perspectives. These Nurses must identify unique means for improving the quality of life of women. This study identified the meaning and structure of the lived experience of abortion. The participants were residents of Seoul and Kwang ju who were recruited through personal recommendation. Colaizzi's method was used for the phenomenological analysis. The research question was aimed at revealing the covert meaning of abortion. The 14 women who had a spontaneous abortion and/or an artificial abortion and who argeed to participate in the study were informed of the purpose of the study, the possible risks and benefits of participation, the data generation method and they were assured of privacy and confidentiality. The investigator conducted in-depth unstructured interviews which were audiotaped with the permission of the participants. The investigator read the data repeatdly to identify and categorize themes and basic structural elements. Eight themes of abortion as experienced by these participants were: 1) complicated feelings about the anticipated abortion 2) feelings of fear and anxiety about the operation and complications 3) grieving related loss and injury 4) feelings of lonliness in perceiving no supportive person, 5) attributing the cause of the abortion to siginificant others or to self, 6) guilt feelings and resentment, 7) vacillating between regretting and not regretting, 8) struggling to a responsible person. Five basic structures identified were: 1) Complicated feelings 2) Feelings of loss and need for caring 3) Attributings to cause to significant others 4) Paradoxical emotion 5) Struggling to be a responsible being The significes of this study for nursing are: 1) It enables nurses and other health care providers understand more clearly the lived experience of abortion 2) It provides information which can be used in for women who experience abortion.