Abortion education in nurse practitioner, physician assistant and certified nurse–midwifery programs: a national survey
Received 20 September 2005; received in revised form 26 October 2005; accepted 26 October 2005. published online 16 January 2006.
Abstract
Objective
This study was undertaken to examine the inclusion and extent of abortion education in accredited nurse practitioner (NP), physician assistant (PA) and certified nurse–midwifery (CNM) programs in the United States.
Methods
In January 2000, a confidential survey requesting information about the curricular inclusion of eight reproductive health topics was mailed to program directors at all 486 accredited NP, PA and CNM programs in the United States.
Results
Two hundred two surveys were returned, with a response rate of 42%. Overall, 53% of programs reported didactic instruction on surgical abortion, manual vacuum aspiration or medication abortion and 21% reported including at least one of these three procedures in their routine clinical curriculum.
Conclusion
Abortion education is deficient in NP, PA and CNM programs in the United States. As integral components of women's health care, abortion, pregnancy options counseling and family planning merit incorporation into routine didactic and clinical education.
ABSTRACT