The utilization of nurse-midwives as providers of obstetric triage services. Results of a national survey.

Abstract

Obstetric triage services are rapidly advancing, and the concept is becoming a popular practice pattern. As more pregnant women are evaluated in ambulatory settings, especially in high volume obstetric tertiary centers, it is now realized more and more that labor and other complaints cannot be addressed solely in labor and delivery units, nor are most of these complaints solely labor related. This article presents the results of a national survey designed to discover what contributions nurse-midwives are making to obstetric triage services. In addition, the results provide initial benchmark data on obstetric triage components against which other midwifery services can address practice issues.