Informed Consent and Shared Decision-Making in Midwifery Practice

Description:

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.

Disclosure Statements:

The instructors and course planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. No commercial support has been received for the development or delivery of this course.

This course was developed solely for educational purposes to meet continuing education requirements for Licensed Midwives in the State of Florida. All recommendations are evidence-based and consistent with accepted midwifery practice standards.

Participation in this course does not constitute legal advice. Licensees are responsible for verifying compliance with all relevant Florida laws, administrative rules, and Board guidance.

All course materials—including slides, handouts, and recorded content—are the intellectual property of the course provider and may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.

Completion of this course does not guarantee license renewal unless all other requirements of the Florida Department of Health and the Council of Licensed Midwifery are met. Participants are responsible for submitting CE documentation in a timely manner.

There is a 4% electronic processing fee applied on top of the course cost.