The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is a

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of ...

nonprofit membership organization. The stated purpose of AWHONN is to promote the health of women and newborns.AWHONN.org
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History

AWHONN became a separate and independent organization in 1993.Nurse Zone
/ref> Using the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) guidelines correctly can make staffing the safest possible. When these staffing guidelines are followed appropriately, they allow for quality care and more time for the nurse to spend at the bedside with the patient. The experience and skill mix of the nurses on the labor and delivery unit is another critical element of safe staffing. Nurses in labor and delivery units should have one patient to care for if the woman is having her labor induced or has chosen a birthing plan without pain medication or an epidural. Two nurses should be at every birth, one to care for the mom and the other to care for the baby. As far as post partum and mother baby units, the ratio is one nurse for every 3-4 couplets (mom and a baby) as long as they are all considered "stable".

Sections and Chapters

There are 51 AWHONN Sections (one for each state, plus one that represents members in the US Armed Forces). Within each section, there are local chapters.

Activities

Standards and Guidelines

AWHONN publishes S''tandards for Professional Nursing Practice in the Care of Women and Newborns''. These standards define the roles, functions and competencies of nurses caring for women and newborns and delineate the various roles and behaviors for which the professional nurse is accountable.Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. (2009). Standards for professional nursing practice in the care of women and newborns (7th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. AWHONN also publishes multiple evidence-based nursing guidelines for use by nurses caring for women and newborns. These evidence-based guidelines cover topics like fetal heart rate monitoring,

labor induction Labor induction is the procedure where a medical professional starts the process of labor ( giving birth) instead of letting it start on its own. Labor may be induced (started) if the health of the mother or the baby is at risk. Induction of lab ...

, neonatal skin care, care of the late preterm infant,

breastfeeding Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the process where breast milk is fed to a child. Infants may suck the milk directly from the breast, or milk may be extracted with a Breast pump, pump and then fed to the infant. The World Health Orga ...

HPV Human papillomavirus infection (HPV infection) is caused by a DNA virus from the ''Papillomaviridae'' family. Many HPV infections cause no symptoms and 90% resolve spontaneously within two years. In some cases, an HPV infection persists and ...

counseling, neonatal

hyperbilirubinemia Bilirubin (BR) (adopted from German, originally bili—bile—plus ruber—red—from Latin) is a red-orange compound that occurs in the normcomponent of the straw-yellow color in urine. Another breakdown product, stercobilin, causes the brown ...

, nursing staffing,Advance for Nurses
/ref> and care of the patient in the second stage of labor.

Legislative Programs

AWHONN works with members of Federal, State, and local governments to advocate for the health of women and newborns. AWHONN also provides education for nurses on how to become involved in the legislative process.

Publications

Professional Journals: *''

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing The ''Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing'' is a peer-reviewed Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regul ...

'' (''JOGNN'') *''Nursing for Women's Health'' Consumer Publications and Websites: *''Healthy Mom & Baby''
Health4mom.org

Coalitions and Collaborations

AWHONN collaborates with other healthcare organizations that support health promotion and improvement for women and newborns. *

March of Dimes March of Dimes is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. The organization was founded by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, to co ...

* National Institute of Child Health and Human Development *Coalition for Patients' Rights *Partnership to End Cervical Cancer *Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief (ANSR) Alliance *

American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate Heart, cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability ...

(Go Red for Women Campaign) *

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the third largest Institute of the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. It is tasked with allocating about $3.6 billion in FY 2020 in tax revenue t ...

(The Heart Truth Campaign)

Research

AWHONN awards small research grants to members conducting research activities that are consistent with its mission.

References

{{Authority control Nursing organizations in the United States Medical and health organizations based in Washington, D.C. Health industry trade groups based in the United States