Effectiveness of certified nurse-midwives. A prospective evaluation study.
A prospective evaluation study of the effectiveness of the services of certified nurse-midwives demonstrated that in a hospital setting the care of low-risk maternity patients provided by nurse-midwives was as effective as the provided by house staff physicians. A total of 438 low-risk maternity patients were studied. Selected outcomes pertaining to the prenatal period, labor and delivery, and early infancy demonstrated, with two exceptions, no significant differences. The two exceptions were: (1) overcompliance with appointment attendance was more common among the nurse-midwifery group of patients; (2) a higher rate of forceps delivery was reported among the house staff group of patients.
D001724:Birth Weight; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008922:Mississippi; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D009726:Nurses; D011247:Pregnancy