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DWI-1008n. Introduction to Labor & Delivery Nursing: A Comprehensive Course for Registered Nurses

12 CE Contact Hours
Course Duration: Self-paced (estimated completion time 12 hours)

This course meets the qualifications for 12 hours of continuing education credit for Registered Nurses as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 18037.

Author

Wendy J. Stone, PsyD, MFT, RN, is a Doctor of Psychology, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. Dr. Stone has more than 35 years of experience serving patients in a variety of roles, including nursing, marriage/family counseling, education, and psychiatric care. Dr. Stone currently provides psychological counseling for a variety of patient profiles both in-person and via videoconferencing. She is also a seasoned medical administrator and professional trainer and educator. As the author of an expanding portfolio of professional education and self-help materials, Dr. Stone continues to increase the range of her service to patients, professionals, and the community at large.

Course Description

This course is designed for registered nurses transitioning into or enhancing their expertise in labor and delivery (L&D) nursing. It provides a thorough foundation in evidence-based practices, emphasizing maternal-fetal safety, holistic care, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The course covers high-risk maternal conditions, labor physiology, fetal assessment, procedures, postpartum recovery, and professional issues such as implicit bias in the healthcare environment. Content includes detailed explanations, case-based applications, APA-referenced resources, and quizzes with multiple-choice and true-false questions. A Final Test integrates all material, requiring a 70% pass rate for completion.

Educational Goals

The overarching goals of this course are to:

  • Equip RNs with comprehensive knowledge of L&D nursing to promote safe, evidence-based care for mothers, fetuses, and newborns
  • Foster critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills to manage high-risk scenarios and support physiologic birth
  • Enhance professional development by addressing ethical, legal, and cultural aspects of obstetric nursing as well as the effect of implicit bias, reducing disparities and improving patient outcomes
  • Prepare nurses to integrate interdisciplinary collaboration and quality improvement into practice, ultimately contributing to lower maternal-neonatal morbidity and mortality rates

Measurable Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Name a common fetal complication of gestational diabetes.
  • identify the lab text that is critical for diagnosing DIC in pregnancy.
  • Name the recommended first-line intervention for mild anxiety.
  • Name the diagnostic tool used to confirm placenta previa.
  • identify the recommended mode of delivery for complete coverage in placenta previa.
  • Name the key intervention for non-reassuring FHR patterns.
  • Identify the method that confirms fetal acidosis during labor.

Course Outline

  1. Maternal Complications Affecting the Fetus and Newborn
    1. Overview
    2. Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy
    3. Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy
    4. Cardiac Diseases in Pregnancy
    5. Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy (GBS and HIV)
    6. Hematologic Disorders (Anemia and DIC)
    7. Respiratory Disorders (Asthma)
    8. Endocrine Disorders (Thyroid Dysfunction)
    9. Psychiatric, Psychological, and Social Issues in Pregnancy
  2. Psychological, Environmental Factors, and Preterm Labor
    1. Overview
    2. Psychological Factors in Pregnancy
    3. Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy
    4. Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy
    5. Environmental Factors and Toxins
    6. Preterm Labor
  3. Multiple Gestation and Placental Disorders
    1. Overview
    2. Multiple Gestation
    3. Placental Abruption
    4. Placenta Previa
    5. Vasa Previa
    6. Placenta Accreta Spectrum
  4. Fetal Assessment
    1. Overview
    2. Antenatal Fetal Assessment
    3. Non-Stress Test (NST)
    4. Biophysical Profile (BPP)
    5. Contraction Stress Test (CST)
    6. Doppler Ultrasound and Amniotic Fluid Assessment
    7. Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring
  5. Physiology of Labor and Assessment of Labor
    1. Overview
    2. Physiology of Labor: The 4 Ps
    3. Stages of Labor
    4. Assessment of Labor Progress
  6. Obstetrical and Perioperative Procedures
    1. Overview
    2. External Cephalic Version (ECV)
    3. Labor Induction and Augmentation
    4. Operative Vaginal Delivery (Forceps or Vacuum)
    5. Episiotomy
    6. Cesarean Birth
    7. Trial of Labor After Cesarean (TOLAC/VBAC)
  7. Recovery, Postpartum, and Newborn Care
    1. Overview
    2. Fourth Stage of Labor: Immediate Recovery (First Hour Post-Birth)
    3. Postpartum Maternal Care (Up to 6-8 Weeks)
    4. Newborn Transition and Immediate Care
    5. Common Postpartum and Newborn Complications
    6. Family-Centered Care and Discharge Planning
  8. Professional Issues in Obstetric Nursing
    1. Overview
    2. Ethical Dilemmas in Obstetric Nursing
    3. Legal Aspects and Scope of Practice
    4. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
    5. Cultural Competence and Inclusive Care
    6. Interprofessional Collaboration
    7. Patient Advocacy and Birth Plans
    8. Risk Management and Chain of Command
    9. Continuing Education and Certification
    10. Quality Improvement Initiatives
    11. Burnout Prevention and Self-Care
    12. Trauma-Informed Care
  9. Implicit Bias
    1. Overview
    2. Definition of Implicit Bias
    3. Comparison of Implicit and Explicit Bias
    4. Impact of Implicit Bias
    5. Strategies to Cope with Implicit Bias
  10. Final Test
  11. Course Evaluation
  12. Appendix: Useful Resources

How to Take This Course

  1. Review the course material for each lesson and take the lesson quiz. Each quiz will be reviewed upon submission to show the correct and incorrect answers. The correct answers for incorrect responses are provided to aid in effective deep learning. 
  2. Review the graded quiz results for the lesson and note your correct and incorrect answers.
  3. Revisit the sections in the lesson pertaining to your incorrect answers and when you are comfortable that you understand the material, retake the quiz. You may take lesson quizzes as many times as necessary until you feel that you have mastered the material.
  4. Lesson quizzes do not count toward course completion.
  5. When you have completed all lessons in the course, access the Final Test section and take the test. You may review all of your answers while you are working on the Final Test, but once you submit your answers, you will not be able to change them.
  6. The Final Test will be graded immediately. A score of 70% correct answers is required for a Certificate of Completion.
  7. If you do not achieve a 70% score on the first attempt, you may retake the Final Test up to two more times (a total of 3 attempts). It is highly recommended that you review the lessons related to your incorrect answers before you retake the Final Test.
  8. You will be invited to download your Certificate of Completion upon achieving a 70% score or higher on the Final Test and completing the Course Evaluation.
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