| Description |
The purpose of the project was to write and submit an article for publication to provide evidence-based education about water immersion birth to clinical nurses. Currently, there is a lack of easily accessible and evidence-based education and information available to nurses who provide care to birthing women who choose water immersion for birth. The lack of available nursing education may reduce nurses' ability to provide safe, high-quality care. The objectives of the project were to identify an appropriate nursing journal for article submission, write an appropriately formatted article for submission based on identified journal parameters and audience, and submit an article to the identified journal. The use of water for labor and birth has been documented since 1805 (Weaver, 2014). Since then, water birth has come in and out of popularity worldwide. In many countries, it is now a common option for birthing women. In Utah only two facilities have adopted water birth protocols within the last 3 years, although there appears to be no shortage of patients desiring this option. In spite of the lack of randomized control trials regarding the safety of water birth, qualitative, observational, and anecdotal evidence is available. Multiple maternal benefits have been identified, and neonatal outcomes are similar, if not improved, among women who chose to birth in water. The available evidence and increased use of water immersion for birth have led organizations such as AAP and ACOG to release policy statements on water birth. Literature on nursing education supports the use of protocols and guidelines for nursing education, including the incorporation of water immersion for birth in the hospital setting. Objective one was carried out and evaluated by meeting with the health sciences librarian, project chair, and content expert, and subsequently selecting the journal for submission of the manuscript. The manuscript was written after review of relevant literature and protocols available from hospitals currently offering the option of water birth. The manuscript was subsequently reviewed and approved by the project chair to complete objective two. The manuscript was originally submitted to the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing. However, after additional feedback and discussion, the manuscript was revised and submitted to Nursing for Women's Health. Manuscript revisions included developing and proposing a sample protocol for nurses attending water immersion for birth. The overall purpose of this project was to increase nursing knowledge and awareness of water immersion birth in the hospital setting via a manuscript submission to a nationally known clinical nursing publication. |
