Using evidence-based practice to improve intrapartum care.
The Cochrane Data Base (www.cochranelibrary. com/clibhome/clib.htm, retrieved February 23, 2001), a comprehensive international review of current medical and obstetric practices, demonstrates that birth outcomes improve with one-to-one labor support but not necessarily with continuous fetal monitoring. Because of a cultural bias toward technology, however, few extrinsic rewards exist for nurses who provide individualized labor support. Clinical scholarship in the obstetric setting is one way to begin changing ritualized practices, incorporating evidence-based practice, and improving nursing care.
Kardong-Edgren
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University of Texas at Arlington, School of Nursing, 76019, USA. sedgren@uta.edu
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002568:Certification; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000451:nursing*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000592:standards; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011287:Prejudice; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States