Learning Objective #1: Identify ways that an evidence-based clinical documentation system facilitates consistent quality care for women and babies

Learning Objective #2: Explore strategies to facilitate implementation of an evidence-based documentation system designed to transform professional practice and health outcomes for women and babies

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The health of women and babies is foundational to the health of families and communities. The care of women in the perinatal period and of newborn infants has lifelong implications. It is critical to care for each woman and infant as holistic individuals with their unique stories and needs. Nurses are faced with the challenge of integrating evidence-based practice in order to provide these critical services to optimize the health of women and babies. What are some of the strategies and tools that will facilitate integration of evidence-based practice into an acute care setting for the care of women in the perinatal period and for their newborns, either term or preterm?

Health care professionals of all disciplines and roles face the challenge of implementing evidence-based information into their daily practice. The transformational process of implementing evidence-based practice is also a challenge for those who embark on the journey to translate evidence into daily practice.

This session will describe processes used when implementing an evidence-based clinical documentation system. One of these processes provides opportunity for staff to explore the “wisdom of the past” in terms of analyzing their current strengths in using evidence in practice. This process of professional practice analysis and adoption of evidence-based documentation system also looks at the gaps between current practice and the future practice. Strategies are then planned to facilitate the transition to evidence-based practice.

Specific examples of how evidence-based documentation system implementation provide a mechanism for consistent quality care of women in labor and delivery, postpartum period, and for newborns (term and preterm) will be explored in relation to experiences from multiple settings.