NURSING STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS TOWARDS CHILDBIRTH AND CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIVES
Gaillard, Stewart
Gaillard, Stewart
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2025-05-19
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Abstract
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) play a critical role in providing holistic, patient-centered prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. Despite the benefits of CNM-attended births, including better maternal and infant outcomes, there is a shortage of CNMs in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students' attitudes and beliefs towards childbirth and certified nurse midwives (CNMs). Nursing students play a pivotal role in promoting midwifery and a more physiologic birth process. By understanding their attitudes and beliefs, efforts can be focused on promoting a positive and accepting attitude toward CNMs and their care in the clinical setting. As the next generation of nurses, the education received on CNMs and the birthing process can help to curb the midwife shortage and promote a positive, accepting attitude toward CNMs in the clinical setting. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study was conducted with consenting undergraduate nursing students at Texas Christian University (TCU) via a Qualtrics survey. Participants were members of the Student Nurses Association and included students from freshman to senior levels. Survey questions were adapted from previous research, including Elizalde's survey on midwifery knowledge and Levine's Nurse Attitudes and Beliefs Questionnaire-Revised (NABQ-R) to measure nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards midwifery and childbirth practices. The survey also included demographic questions to examine cohort differences and prior education related to maternal-child health. The survey yielded 84 total respondents; however, only 20 students completed all questions. Of the 20 respondents, 19 were female and 1 was male. The greatest number of respondents were in their senior I semester (n = 9), followed by junior II (n = 5), freshman (n = 2), sophomore I (n = 2), junior I (n =2), and sophomore II (n = 1). NABQ-R scores ranged from 76 to 92 and had a mean of 84.15, with higher scores indicating more positive attitudes toward CNMs. Participants were moderately or very likely (60%) to choose a midwife to provide care for themselves, partner, or family member during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. However, half of the respondents (n = 10) were unaware that a midwife can provide the majority of care to women and their babies during pregnancy, birth, and up to six weeks after the birth. Analysis of the 20 completed surveys provided insights into students' beliefs and attitudes toward childbirth and CNMs. The results identify gaps in students' understanding and explore the impact of educational exposure on future CNM and nurse collaboration. Although attitudes toward CNMs were generally positive, there is a clear need to develop curricula that promote a more comprehensive understanding and acceptance of midwifery care. By addressing these gaps, the nursing curriculum could help reduce the CNM workforce shortage and improve maternal and infant care outcomes.