Best Practices in Midwifery

Book excerpt: Awarded second place in the 2013 AJN Book of the Year Awards in the Maternal-Child Nursing/Childbirthing category "This book is one of those turning points that will make an enormous difference." Judith P. Rooks, CNM, MS, MPH Author of Midwifery and Childbirth in America "This book provides a well-rounded examination of the issues we face in using evidence to inform our everyday clinical decisions...The authors have gathered current evidence and created practice scenarios to help the reader visualize EBP in action." "In a country that has more independent midwives and group practices than hospital based midwives this type of book could possibly become the cornerstone in terms of the standards of midwifery care."--Nursing Times From the Foreword by Holly Powell Kennedy, CNM, PhD, FACNM, FAAN President, American College of Nurse Midwives Helen Varney Professor of Midwifery Yale University School of Nursing Nurse-midwives often find themselves in situations where current research-based treatment conflicts with established practices that may be ineffective or even harmful. This text provides a roadmap for nurse-midwives who strive to implement change through evidence-based practice by presenting the most current evidence-based research on the care of childbearing women. It is the only book about evidence-based practice for nurse-midwives that encompasses the most controversial areas of practice. The text incorporates the foundations of midwifery and the midwifery model of care throughout. The book discusses the use of electronic databases in examining evidence and identifying best practices. It considers how the current workforce environment affects the practice of nurse-midwifery, and describes evidence-based practices in the care of childbearing women. Each chapter reviews current literature, describes contemporary practices and explores whether these practices are based on scientific evidence. Case studies enhance the examination of evidence and the identification of best practices. Key Features: Focuses on scientific evidence as the framework for the practice of nurse-midwifery Incorporates the hallmarks of midwifery and the midwifery model of care Examines practices that are in conflict with scientific evidence Provides guidance for practicing nurse-midwives in implementing best practices based upon scientific evidence