BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS TO EDUCATE NURSING STUDENTS ON CONTINUOUS LABOR SUPPORT

Abstract

This thesis studies current research and identifies the need for continuous labor support at the bedside. Women who have labor support are more likely to have positive birth outcomes, and a positive post-evaluation of their labor (Simon, Johnson, & Liddell, 2016). The articles included in this paper address the type of labor support that is most effective, the benefits of continuous labor support, and the role nursing students can take providing in labor support. With the evidence synthesized from the articles, this paper focuses on establishing an elective 2 credit course that will be integrated in the curriculum of a nursing school. The goal of this program is to train nursing students on labor support through didactic content and clinical experience. The research-based articles reviewed support maternal-newborn birth improvements as well as the benefits nursing students gain after taking the DONA doula certification course. This paper will review the current literature, establish the benefit of having an elective DONA doula certification course on labor support for nursing students, and propose the implementation and evaluation of an elective doula certification course at a college of nursing.