The Interdisciplinary Doula Project: Innovations in Nursing Clinical Education

Julie Vignato; Teresa Horak; Amber Goodrich; Emily Shier; Lastasica Coleman; Anita Nicholson; Meagan Thompson

doi:10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001248

The Interdisciplinary Doula Project: Innovations in Nursing Clinical Education

Nurs Educ Perspect. 2024 Feb 23. doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001248. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Julie Vignato¹, Teresa Horak, Amber Goodrich, Emily Shier, Lastasica Coleman, Anita Nicholson, Meagan Thompson

Affiliation

¹ About the Authors Julie Vignato, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor, College of Nursing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Teresa Horak, MS, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-FMC, is the associate director of nursing for women's health services, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa. Amber Goodrich, CNM, ARNP, MSN, FACNM, is division director and clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology-midwifery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa. Emily Shier, MS, is a certified doula trainer, DONA International. Lastascia Coleman, CNM, ARNP, MSN, FACNM, is department director of DEI, Department of OB/GYN and clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology-midwifery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa. Anita Nicholson, PhD, RN, is a clinical professor, College of Nursing, The University of Iowa. Meagan Thompson, DNP, APRN, DNM, PHMNP, is an assistant professor, Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. This project was supported by the College of Nursing, The University of Iowa, and the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. The authors are grateful to Sarah Shaffer, DO, MME, FACOG, for her contribution to this project. For more information, contact Dr. Vignato, at Julie-vignato@uiowa.edu.

PMID: 38407243
DOI: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001248

Abstract

People giving birth report overwhelmingly positive experiences with nursing students acting as doulas. However, no programs report on improving diversity among students, pregnant people, and curricula. This article describes the Interdisciplinary Doula Project, a program to enhance diverse perspectives and clinical skills of university students. Nursing (n = 21, 77.8%) and other health students (n = 6, 22.2%) completed doula training, diversity seminars, and 36 hours of intrapartum care. Seven nursing students were hired to work on labor and delivery upon graduation. This innovative program may increase registered nurses trained to provide culturally congruent labor support for vulnerable pregnant populations.