Midwifery and obstetrics: twenty years of collaborative academic practice.

This review describes a collaborative educational practice model partnering midwifery and obstetrics within a department of obstetrics and gynecology. For more than 20 years, the authors' model has demonstrated sustainability and influence on medical education. The focus is on resident education in obstetrics, using midwifery faculty as teachers in the obstetric and obstetric triage settings.

Interdisciplinary and interprofessional education: what are the key issues and considerations for the future?

The identification of key issues and considerations for interdisciplinary and interprofessional education are explored. Both benefits and barriers to interprofessional education are discussed. The concept of simulation is reviewed relative to interprofessional education primarily as a catalyst for implementation of collaboration.

Obstetric triage: models and trends in resident education by midwives.

Four models of resident education in obstetric triage with midwifery faculty consultants are presented. Common trends in the structure and function of these models are reviewed. The four models represent diverse settings where midwives serve as clinical teachers primarily for first-year obstetric residents and residents from other subspecialties.

A national survey of the midwifery director role in academic midwifery practices involved in medical education in the United States.

A survey to explore the role characteristics and key responsibilities of midwifery directors in academic practices involved in medical education in the United States was undertaken. Six key content areas were investigated: role responsibilities and characteristics, interaction with other medical divisions and committees, budgetary structure, interaction with learners, clinical schedules, and job satisfaction. A mail-based descriptive survey was distributed to 112 midwifery directors with a 56% response rate (N = 63).

Liability in triage: management of EMTALA regulations and common obstetric risks.

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) affects all clinicians who provide triage care for pregnant women. EMTALA has specific regulations for hospitals relative to women in active labor. Violations can carry stiff penalties.

Closed claims analysis of 65 medical malpractice cases involving nurse-midwives.

The threat of litigation in clinical midwifery is evident in daily practice. Although midwives have not had the same risk of claims and suits as obstetricians, all obstetric providers are potentially subject to claims of malpractice. Closed claims analysis has been used in the past to review risk patterns and to heighten awareness of certain risks.

Obstetric triage revisited: update on non-obstetric surgical conditions in pregnancy.

New findings and diagnostic advances warrant revisiting key features of acute non-obstetric abdominal pain in pregnancy. Four of the most frequently seen conditions warranting surgical intervention are: appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and bowel obstruction. Because pregnancy often masks abdominal complaints, effectively assessing and triaging abdominal pain in pregnant women can be difficult.

Gallbladder and pancreatic disease during pregnancy.

Gallbladder disease and pancreatitis are two nonobstetric abdominal-related complaints presenting during pregnancy; gallbladder-related surgery in pregnancy is second only to appendectomy. Pancreatitis is seen less often but its most common cause is gallstone-related pain. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the clinical assessment and management of these disorders in pregnancy and to make nurses aware of the most current clinical options and techniques.