Informed Consent and Shared Decision-Making in Midwifery Practice

This 2-hour continuing education course provides midwives with an in-depth understanding of informed consent and shared decision-making within midwifery care. It emphasizes the ethical, legal, and clinical foundations of patient autonomy and collaborative care, ensuring that midwives can navigate complex situations with confidence and professionalism. Participants will explore communication strategies that promote trust, respect, and mutual understanding between midwife and client, as well as methods for documenting and upholding informed consent in clinical settings. The course integrates current Florida statutes, national midwifery standards, and best practices from evidence-based care models. Key topics include: The ethical and legal foundations of informed consent in midwifery practice Elements of valid consent and refusal of care Shared decision-making frameworks and communication techniques Respecting client autonomy while ensuring safety and professional accountability Documentation standards and risk management considerations Applying informed consent principles in various practice settings (home birth, birth center, hospital transfers) Addressing cultural, linguistic, and power dynamics in client decision-making Instruction is delivered through recorded video lectures, case-based scenarios, and self-assessment quizzes. Participants must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% on the final quiz to earn continuing education credit.

Learning Objectives:

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

1. Define informed consent and shared decision-making within the context of midwifery care.
2. Identify the essential elements of valid informed consent and informed refusal.
3. Apply effective communication strategies to support client-centered decision-making.
4. Analyze ethical dilemmas and professional responsibilities related to informed consent.
5. Document client communications and consent processes in accordance with legal and regulatory standards.
6. Integrate shared decision-making principles into daily midwifery practice to promote respectful, evidence-based care.