title: Promoting and implementing evidence-based, best practices in childbirth education.
abstract: Childbirth educators have a duty to promote and implement best practices. Best practices are individualized and evidence-based, using quality research to optimize outcomes. This requires addressing change. The childbirth educator must model evidence-based practices by systematically engaging in activities to improve his or her own changing curriculum. The childbirth educator is also a professional in a core position to play an active role as a change agent in the system through evaluation and dissemination of information to parents, fellow childbirth educators, and other professionals on the health-care team. This information provides the basis for important health-care decisions for self and others.
authors.affiliation: N ayna P hilipsen is Director of Education, Examination, Research, and Communication for the Maryland Board of Nursing. She is also a health educator at St. Agnes HealthCare in Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Nanya C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Philipsen