Transition into motherhood is generally a joyful life event; for some women, however, it is marked by emotional turmoil. Lack of support can be associated with postpartum depression and can compromise both the mother and infant. A descriptive, cross-sectional study (N 5 61) was conducted to explore the relationship between social support and postpartum depression and to determine whether mothers overwhelmed with childcare, or overwhelmed with life in general since becoming a mother, sought professional help. The results revealed that screening for depression alone may not be sufficient, that mothers are willing to contact a professional for help in the postpartum period, and that assessments after birth should include a broader assessment of life's difficulties rather than focusing on childcare responsibilities alone.

This article will discuss the unique way in which nursing education at one Catholic University is distinctively value-driven with a focus on the meaning of Mercy and Jesuit traditions and how these philosophies translate into professional nursing practice. An innovative approach to a valuedriven education that incorporates the philosophy of the Mercy and Jesuit traditions in a professional nursing role is fostered with the teachings of Catherine McAuley and Ignatius Loyola and infused through the act of service-learning and reflection on the service-learning experience. Nursing students are educated from a perspective of historical tradition, spirituality, social justice, reflective thinking and a value-centered professional education, enriching their self-awareness toward the development of leadership behaviors. Linking the service-learning experience to nursing concepts within the Mercy and Jesuit traditions has demonstrated a deep sense of selfawareness, a high level of understanding of caring and the concept of nurses as leaders amongst the students at our university.

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