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The role of nurses and midwives in the provision of abortion care: A scoping review

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  • Lydia Mainey
  • Catherine O’Mullan
  • Kerry Reid‐Searl
  • Annabel Taylor
  • Kathleen Baird

Abstract

Aims and objectives To define the role and scope of the nurse and midwife within the global context of abortion. Background An estimated 56 million women seek abortions each year; nurses and midwives are commonly involved in their care (Singh et al., 2018, https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/abortion-worldwide-2017.pdf). As new models of abortion care emerge, there is a pressing need to develop a baseline understanding of the role and scope of nurses and midwives who care for women seeking abortions. Design The review design was Arksey and O’Malley's five‐stage methodological framework. The review follows the PRISMA‐ScR checklist. Methods MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and ScienceDirect were used to identify original research, commentaries and reports, published between 2008–2019, from which we selected 74 publications reporting on the nursing or midwifery role in abortion care. Results Nurses and midwives provide abortion care in a variety of practice. Three themes emerged from the literature: the regulated role; providing psychosocial care; and the expanding scope of practice. Conclusions The literature on nursing and midwifery practice in abortion care is broad. Abortion‐related practices are potentially over‐regulated. Appropriately trained nurses and midwives can provide abortions as safely as physicians. The preparation of nurses and midwives to provide abortion care requires further research. Also, healthcare organisations should explore person‐centred models of abortion care. Relevance to clinical practice Abortion care is a common procedure performed across many healthcare settings. Nurses and midwives provide technical and psychosocial care to women who seek abortions. Governments and regulatory bodies could safely extend their scope of practice to increase women's access to safe abortions. Introduction of education programmes, as well as embedding practice in person‐centred models of care, may improve outcomes for women seeking abortions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lydia Mainey & Catherine O’Mullan & Kerry Reid‐Searl & Annabel Taylor & Kathleen Baird, 2020. "The role of nurses and midwives in the provision of abortion care: A scoping review," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(9-10), pages 1513-1526, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:29:y:2020:i:9-10:p:1513-1526
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15218
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paola Agnese Mauri & Elisabetta Ceriotti & Marta Soldi & Norma Nilde Guerrini Contini, 2015. "Italian midwives' experiences of late termination of pregnancy. A phenomenological–hermeneutic study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), pages 243-249, June.
    2. Weitz, T.A. & Taylor, D. & Desai, S. & Upadhyay, U.D. & Waldman, J. & Battistelli, M.F. & Drey, E.A., 2013. "Safety of aspiration abortion performed by nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants under a California legal waiver," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(3), pages 454-461.
    3. Marianne Kjelsvik & Ragnhild J. Tveit Sekse & Asgjerd Litleré Moi & Elin M. Aasen & Eva Gjengedal, 2018. "Walking on a tightrope—Caring for ambivalent women considering abortions in the first trimester," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(21-22), pages 4192-4202, November.
    4. Weitz, T.A. & Taylor, D. & Upadhyay, U.D. & Desai, S. & Battistelli, M., 2014. "Research informs abortion care policy change in California," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(10), pages 3-4.
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    1. Kornelia Zaręba & Valentina Lucia La Rosa & Ewelina Kołb-Sielecka & Michał Ciebiera & Rosalia Ragusa & Jacek Gierus & Elena Commodari & Grzegorz Jakiel, 2020. "Attitudes and Opinions of Young Gynecologists on Pregnancy Termination: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-10, May.

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