Honors Program
University Honors
Date of Award
5-2014
Thesis Professor(s)
Audry Greenwell
Thesis Professor Department
Nursing
Thesis Reader(s)
Judy McCook, Megan Quinn
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine whether there was an association between clinical nursing knowledge of four birthing positions and current evidence-based research of those same positions and also to identify possible areas where nursing knowledge of those birthing positions was inadequate. This pilot study used convenience sampling to survey registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) on labor and delivery units. The survey was distributed to three hospitals in the southeastern United States, and twenty-four RNs and LPNs participated. Participants’ knowledge did not reflect current clinical evidence in two key areas, (1) the best position to minimize blood loss and (2) the best position to decrease the likelihood anal sphincter tears. Respectively, only 13% and 27.3% of participants selected the correct position. Continuing education for maternity nurses regarding current evidence-based practice concerning various birthing positions remains a need, and incorporating this could include more frequent opportunities for education classes and unit inservices. Results from this study should not be generalized, and more research is needed in this area to validate these findings.
Document Type
Honors Thesis - Withheld
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Latham, Leah M., "Birthing Positions: Is There a Connection Between Acutal Nursing Experience and Evidence-Based Research?" (2014). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 228. https://dc.etsu.edu/honors/228
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.