Effects of Systematic Cervical Exam Training on Labor and Delivery Care

Effects of Systematic Cervical Exam Training on Labor and Delivery Care

All physicians, nurses, and nurse midwives working on Labor and Delivery will be required to complete cervical exam simulation training. Data before and after institution of the training will be compared to determine if the training leads to less cervical exams during labor and increases consistency between examiners

The labor cervical exam is the cornerstone of the management of labor as the accurate assessment of cervical dilation and effacement are crucial in recognizing a normal labor from and abnormal one. To enhance accuracy and precision among healthcare providers working on Labor and Delivery we have created a high fidelity cervical exam simulator. All providers working on Labor and Delivery Repetitive will be required to practice on the simulators until a pre-specified level or accuracy is achieved. We will prospectively and retrospectively assess the number of cervical exams a women receives and the discrepancy between exams performed by 2 different providers both before and after the training is instituted.

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthcare providers:

• physicians, midwives, and labor and delivery nurses working on the Labor and Delivery unit within the Wake Forest Baptist Birth Center

Patients:

• any pregnant women receiving care on the Labor and Delivery unit of Wake Forest Baptist Birth Center

Exclusion Criteria:

Healthcare providers:

• none

Patients:

• placenta previa
• vasa previa
• any other contraindication to cervical exam