Week 5 Reflection

 Technology and Patient-Centered Education

    Thanks to the readily available access of the internet, many patients turn to the world wide web for answers to their questions about pregnancy and childbirth. There are both pros and cons to this. There are many great sources of information out there that provide accurate and helpful education, and technology now provides easy and usually free access to a multitude of options for patients to explore. The cons include disinformation, out-of-date information, and non-expert opinions that can sway a patient towards decision-making that may not be in their best interest.

    Many obstetric patients desire prenatal education. Offering trustworthy resources to our patients is important. There are virtual prenatal classes being offered from the hospital through Zoom. This is a great use of modern technology that patients appreciate attending from the comfort of their own home. Some patients desire prenatal education that focuses specifically on pain management during labor. This link is a great resource on education, planning, and labor pain management.

    Our patients should be encouraged to vocalize their specific wishes or desires during their labor, delivery, and postpartum process. Often patients write these desires down in a Birth Plan which is shared with the staff. This is a great way for patients to advocate for themselves and be included in specific decision-making in their care. Birth Plan templates are available online for patients to download and fill-in their specific requests. This article discusses the benefits of Birth Plans and encourages active patient engagement as a part of their healthcare team.

    I desire to be the type of educator that encourages nurses to take a patient-centered approach to education. If a patient is an un-willing participant, or does not understand the rationale behind receiving specific education, then it falls on deaf ears. In turn, we need to be open to listening to our patients desires and follow their wishes when they make educated decisions. We need to treat the patient as not just a member of the care team, but the center of the care team.