14th World Healthcare, Hospital Management, Nursing, and Patient Safety Conference

According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), midwifery practice encompasses providing health care for women from adolescence through menopause (2011). In addition to primary care, midwives also offer gynecologic, family planning, and preconception care, care for expectant mothers, care for new mothers after delivery, attention for the healthy newborn during the first 28 days of life, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections in male partners (American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2011). In addition to the home and birthing center, midwives also work in clinics, offices, and hospitals.

The practice of midwifery supports natural processes and places a strong emphasis on providing women with holistic care within the context of their families and communities. Women and midwives work together to deliver tailored, evidence-based care. If issues emerge that are outside the midwife’s area of expertise, she consults with the relevant medical professionals and refers the woman and/or newborn to specialists as needed. The majority of the clinical health personnel that attends women during labor and delivery is made up of midwives and nurses in many parts of the world. In fact, despite regional differences in the midwife’s duties and interactions with collaboration physicians, the roles of the midwife and the obstetric nurse in hospital settings are often the similar.

A Meeting that brings exclusive insights and inspirational speakers to discuss the latest research & trends. Register to be a speaker CME/CPD/CE accredited 13th World Nursing, Healthcare Management, and Patient Safety Conference on November 15-18, 2023 in Los Angeles, USA, and showcase your talent to the worldwide attendees.
Submit the abstract here: https://nursing.universeconferences.com/submit-abstract/

The Foundation for Midwifery Practice

AWHONN supports the International Confederation of Midwives’ Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice and Global Standards for Midwifery Education, which have been endorsed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as the minimum standards for practicing midwives in the United States as of 2014. The ICM defines a midwife as a person who has successfully completed a midwifery educational program that is recognized in the nation in which the program is located, is based on the framework of the Global Standards, and is based on the Essential Competencies. A midwife also has the necessary credentials to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice midwifery and use the title midwife.

The Foundation for Midwifery Practice

To be registered and/or legally likened to practice midwifery in the jurisdiction in which the midwife practices, one must complete the necessary requirements.

Birth Settings and Service Providers of Choice

AWHONN promotes a woman’s freedom to choose and have access to a wide range of healthcare providers and facilities for her pregnancy, birth, and women’s health. Women have a right to equitable, trustworthy, and unbiased information about available care options so they can make decisions that are best suited to their unique needs and those of their families. A woman’s decision may be impacted by a variety of elements, including her health, her personal situation and preferences, and her family’s, culture’s, or religion’s ideals. The birth location and provider that a woman chooses should be respected by clinicians.

The Function of Nurse

In hospitals where babies are born, nurses are the primary healthcare professionals. Nurses communicate with the woman, her family, other medical professionals, and support staff. They frequently act as the woman’s advocate on the medical team and facilitate communication among its members. When a woman is transferred from an out-of-hospital birth setting to a hospital, nurses are frequently the first medical experts to meet her, assess her and the foetus or newborn, and introduce her and her family to the hospital environment. The following are some ways a nurse can support a woman’s access to trustworthy and fair information regarding care alternatives while also promoting safe and effective team communication.

Recognize the variables that affect a woman’s decision regarding the settings and providers of her birth.
Respect a woman’s preference for the birth location and make arrangements for care in a different location if necessary due to the woman’s or the fetus’s clinical condition.
Enable smooth and courteous care transitions when a laboring woman moves from one setting to another.
Include communication-related policies and procedures that reflect the interaction of members of an interdisciplinary team.
Recognize and respect the state licensing requirements and practice restrictions of each coworker in the healthcare industry.

Why is it Important

Midwifery and Women’s Health Nursing play critical roles in the healthcare system, specifically focusing on the care of women throughout their life stages. The importance of midwifery and women’s health nursing can be highlighted in several key areas:

Pregnancy and Childbirth:
- Midwives provide essential care and support to pregnant women before, during, and after childbirth. They play a crucial role in promoting a healthy pregnancy, monitoring fetal development, and assisting with labor and delivery.
- Women’s health nurses contribute to maternity care by providing education, support, and nursing care to pregnant women, helping ensure safe and positive childbirth experiences.
Maternal and Infant Health:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses are involved in promoting the health and well-being of both mothers and infants. They provide postpartum care to monitor the recovery of the mother and address any concerns related to newborn care.
Family Planning and Reproductive Health:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses educate women and couples on family planning options, contraceptive methods, and reproductive health. This contributes to informed decision-making regarding family size and timing of pregnancies.
Women’s Health Across the Lifespan:
- Women’s health nurses provide comprehensive care throughout a woman’s life, addressing issues such as routine gynecological care, menstrual health, fertility concerns, and menopausal health.
- Midwives offer ongoing support and care during various life stages, ensuring that women receive appropriate healthcare tailored to their specific needs.
Preventive Healthcare:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses play a crucial role in preventive healthcare by conducting routine screenings, such as Pap smears and breast exams, to detect and prevent gynecological cancers.
- They also educate women on healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and health maintenance.
Education and Counseling:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses provide education and counseling on a wide range of topics, including prenatal and postpartum care, breastfeeding, nutrition, and sexual health.
- They empower women with knowledge to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Crisis Intervention and Support:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses are often involved in providing emotional support and crisis intervention for women experiencing issues such as infertility, pregnancy loss, or complications during childbirth.
Cultural Competence and Advocacy:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses strive to provide culturally competent care, recognizing and respecting the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of the women they serve.
- They act as advocates for women’s health rights and contribute to promoting equitable and accessible healthcare services.
Community Health Promotion:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses engage in community health promotion activities, participating in initiatives that aim to improve maternal and women’s health outcomes at the community level.
Collaboration in Healthcare Teams:
- Midwives and women’s health nurses collaborate with other healthcare professionals, including obstetricians, pediatricians, and primary care providers, to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care for women.