Enhancing Interprofessional Collaboration Between Doulas, Nurses, And Providers In The Birth Setting.

Abstract

Enhancing the interprofessional collaboration between doulas and healthcare professionals is crucial in providing the best care for childbearing women and their families. The purpose of this thesis is to propose a best practice plan for strengthened collaboration between birth doulas and birth professionals, specifically, labor and delivery nurses and providers in the birth setting. Review and synthesis of current research on the relationship between the two roles led to formulation of interventions in the form of a hospital in-service, an informational pamphlet, and a motivational poster. The aforementioned interventions aim to educate healthcare professionals about the role of birth doulas, highlight the importance of enhanced collaboration, and offer recommendations for building positive interprofessional relationships. The interventions included in this thesis are for use is any hospital birth setting where healthcare professionals work with birth doulas. Plans for evaluation of the interventions include using a written questionnaire completed by the labor and delivery nurses and providers in the birth setting.