AWHONN Enhances Respectful Maternity Care Program with New Training and Designations

AWHONN Expands Respectful Maternity Care Program

The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is embarking on a significant enhancement of its Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) initiative. This expansion, which is currently in the Capacity Building and Designation Phase, aims to elevate the delivery of maternity services nationwide by recognizing and incentivizing hospitals that improve the experiences of mothers throughout their childbirth journey.

One of the standout features of this new phase is the Respectful Maternity Care Train-the-Trainer (RMC-TTT) program. This innovative training module is designed to bolster the workforce's capabilities and ensure the long-term viability of respectful care practices. A major focus will be placed on educating healthcare professionals about essential principles like respect, dignity, informed consent, and shared decision-making. Furthermore, the initiative will offer tailored implementation support, enhanced patient education materials, and multilingual resources tailored to assist patients with limited English proficiency.

As participating hospitals implement the RMC practices, they will be evaluated for tiered recognition through AWHONN’s new designation system. Facilities achieving a Bronze Level Designation will be those that successfully demonstrate the deployment of RMC practices. A higher Silver Level and Gold Level designation will follow, granted based on measurable enhancements in patient experience and health outcomes. It's noteworthy that hospitals will undergo regular reviews to maintain their designation status, ensuring that standards remain high.

The expansion of the RMC initiative has received generous support from Huggies® Healthcare™. Their sponsorship played a crucial role in developing the Respectful Maternity Care Evidence-Based Guideline (RMC-EBG) and Implementation Toolkit (RMC-IT), which were both released in March 2022. With ongoing support from Huggies, AWHONN plans to extend this expanded program through 2030, aiming to provide high-quality, respectful maternity care to a greater number of hospitals across the United States.

The initiative epitomizes AWHONN's unwavering commitment to advocate for equity and compassion in childbirth. By equipping nursing staff and care teams with the necessary tools, AWHONN seeks to enable the delivery of patient-centered and respectful care to all women and newborns.

This comprehensive program not only raises awareness regarding respectful maternity practices but also provides actionable strategies for nurses and healthcare staff to implement these practices effectively. As this initiative unfolds, the hope is that it will transform the maternity care landscape across the nation, ensuring that every woman receives dignified and thoughtful care during one of the most important times in her life.

For more details, interested parties may contact Shannon Doolin at AWHONN via phone at 202-261-2410 or email at [email protected].