Professional Captone Project Analysis

A project according to Capella University is the Capstone project. The project for the Doctor of Education degree was developed to reflect the longstanding vision and mission of the university to be a leader in helping higher education remain relevant, responsive, and rewarding. The project is required for all new learners, recommended for those currently enrolled in the 8300 series of education courses, and optional for all others. The project enables learners to demonstrate scholarship within a specialization through systematic inquiry that may or may not apply the scientific method for the purpose of conducting a research study to find solutions to problems encountered in practice.

According to Capella’s Capstone Guide (2015), the capstone project for the Doctor of Education degree was developed to reflect the longstanding vision and mission of the university to be a leader in helping higher education remain relevant, responsive, and rewarding. The project enables learners to demonstrate scholarship within a specialization through systematic inquiry that may or may not apply the scientific method for the purpose of conducting a research study to find solutions to problems encountered in practice.

For hundred of years, women have wrestled with their womanhood, bodies, and what it means to be a woman in our society. Being a woman comes with a wonderful and empowering responsibility--giving birth. What sets us aside from other countries is that the process and expectations of giving birth has changed in our society; coming from midwifery, as it has always been since the early times, to hospitals where it is now expected to give birth at. Midwifery was a common practice in delivering babies in

Obstetricians and midwives both have a standard that they all need to be aware of and know when working with women in antenatal, birth and post natal. They need to both be able to help assist the women in choosing a mode of care that is suitable for her needs. (Ranzcog.edu.au, 2011)

The capstone project was not implemented this semester due to the timing of clinical rotations, however, the project was presented to the clinical coordinator for the WKU BSN program. General support for the project findings and recommendations resulted in plans to utilize the CICAT within the third-semester clinical instructor curriculum. ADD A SENTENCE

Early proponents of natural childbirth (Dick-Read, 1943; Karmal, 1959; Lamaze, 1970; Leboyer, 1975; and Bradley, 1978) developed programs to prepare women for childbirth that included relaxation, patterned breathing, hypnosis, and water immersion. Encouraged by the work of these early experts, women began to reclaim their autonomy in the birth process. “During the 1950s and 60s, women became more aware of the problems associated with heavy anesthesia during labor. Dense anesthesia had negative effects on women and their babies, and left women unable to play a role in their own care and that of their babies. Control of childbirth shifted from women (the birthing mother and her midwife), to the physician, (generally male at that time).” (Leggitt)

According to statistics, 85% of women will require maternity care at least once in their lifetime (Truven Health Analytics, 2013). On average, four million women in the United States give birth every year. How, where and with whom

The argument that doctors and insurance companies provide against midwives is that births not conducted in hospitals are unfit and inadequate for dealing with emergencies that require the specialty care of doctors. For that reason, physicians deem that women should only give birth in hospitals to diminish risk factors that could affect themselves or their babies. They claim that birthing centers do not have the necessary equipment or personnel to handle an emergency, if one should occur, but maternity centers in the hospital are safe with ample staff. Childbirth is the single most important reason for hospitalization and accounts for the highest number of occupied bed days; however, the current structure of our maternity system makes it challenging

As a nurse I have always found myself reluctant to work in the mother/baby unit; yet, in the last few weeks I have had an exceptional experience in the post-partum unit at Rio Grande Regional Hospital leaving me with great interest to pursue a role as a postpartum nurse. This has come with the support of several preceptors and the exceptional mission and values held by Rio Grande Regional Hospital and its staff. I have earned confidence and knowledge as well as comfort in this field of nursing. I have found this experience to be both rewarding and experiential as Rio Grande Regional Hospital and its staff ensured that my experience in their facility was fulfilling. For this paper, an analysis of the designated facility will be outlined.

The birth of a child presents multiple challenges for the mother as well as the nursing staff. One of the activities that nurses can engage in, to make delivery easier for mothers is providing labor support. While it is acknowledged that labor support is important. Structural, attitudinal and procedural limitations reduce the number of nurses engaged in the practice. Using secondary data from a prior study Barrett & Stark (2010) examine the factors that are associated with the labor support behaviors of nurses.

In recent years, midwifery and obstetrics have become two of the most prominent and primary ways of care for women of childbearing age in comparison to unassisted births and other documented methods. Although midwifery is not as prevalent as obstetrics, there is a rise in midwifery today. In the United States women and their partners are faced with the choice of who should provide care before, during and after pregnancy. As of today there has been a rise in how many births are attended by nurse midwives than it was a quarter of a century ago but the number of births attended by an obstetrician gynecologist (OBGYN) is still significantly higher. Faced with either option, OBGYN or nurse midwife, women of childbearing age are not adequately informed or are misinformed on their choices when it comes to each specialty. This paper explores the issue of women being thoroughly informed on their birth options and on which provider is necessary. This paper also compares the two professions, midwifery and obstetrics in the realm of pregnancy, pregnancy care and childbirth. This examination of professional practices for pregnant women points out the limitations of each obstetrician gynecologists and their attendance in low risk pregnancies and deliveries and suggests the need for midwives more than ever.

Labor may cause the worst pain a woman has ever experienced. However, each woman’s experience of the pains of labor are an individual experience regarding their coping abilities, sensitivity to the sensations of birth, and type of pain. Women also differ in their abilities to tolerate a higher sense of pain without distress whereas, other women experience high levels of distress that caregivers have deemed a moderate level of pain. Accordingly, some birthing mothers under value the pains of labor and are not equipped to cope with it. The process of delivering a baby is a life changing event for women.

Pain is perceived differently in small, cohesive, traditional societies. “For example, in West African countries, such as Benin, during labor and midwifery delivery, the expectant and soon to be new mother expresses her pain by a barely audible “whee”. Labor and delivery is strictly a woman thing. Men are neither present at nor have a responsibility at the event” (Sargent, 1982). The use of grandmothers and mothers is common place. There is a varied emotional response, depending on the woman. Some may cry out loud while others may not use much expression at all. Some may not show up at the hospital until late in the stages of labor due to delayed seeking of medical care from lack of trust in the system and high levels of trust in their elders. Trust needs to be established early on in the nurse/patient relationship. Encouragement and non-judgment for their birthing preferences need to be enforced. Teach the patient what to expect for labor and delivery, and establish any specific preferences so they can be followed.

Before 1700s, childbirth was primarily a domestic event, attended by midwives and female relatives. However, it has drastically changed as a technological approach to childbirth gained a momentum in the Western world. With each new technological invention, came new ways to test and analyze the process of childbirth. The strong push towards utilizing precautionary medical procedures during childbirth such as electronic fetal monitoring, amniocentesis, epidurals and C-section is currently the topic of discussion and whether or not these medical interventions actually do disservice to pregnant women and their childbirth experience. It is agreed that in specific emergent situations, these precautionary methods are necessary as they can

In the past, women across all cultures gave birth using alternative labor positions such as sitting, kneeling, and squatting, which made labor more of a natural process. Today, alternative birthing positions are rarely being used during deliveries. A woman’s delivery position has possible advantages and disadvantages that could affect members of the birthing process, including the mother, child, and practitioner (Diorgu, Steen, Keeling, & Mason-Whitehead, 2016). The use of traditional, or supine, birthing positions such as semi-recumbent and lithotomy, have become widely adapted in hospitals. Traditional positions were preferred by practitioners and was the best use of current technology. With advancements over time, alternative methods are leading to better maternal and child outcomes (The Royal College of Midwives, 2012). Giving birth in an alternative, or upright, position has been associated with better results for the mother and baby; however, it is not convenient for the healthcare provider. These methods reduce episiotomies, increase maternal psychological empowerment, decrease fetal birth trauma, reduce pain for the mother, decrease great vessel compression, and increases oxygenation to the fetus (Desseauve, Fradet, Lacoutrure, & Pierre, 2016).