The AWHONN Intermediate Fetal Heart Monitoring certification is a 2-day course that prepares the New Grad and Transitional nurse for a position in the Labor and Delivery unit. Ultimately, there is so much to learn. Therefore, it would behoove the New Grad or Transitional nurse to have this knowledge under his or her belt. In addition, a resume that reflects the completion of this course increases the chances of being chosen for this technically advanced profession of nursing.

Giving birth is a natural process thus minimal interventions work best. However, when the laboring woman requests and receives pain medications the contractions may slow. Even more, the clinician may administer Pitocin to increase contractions. Hence, this may result in abnormal deceleration’s. Subsequently, the clinician may decide to perform a Cesarean Section. So much for a natural birth.

Most noteworthy, the purpose of this course is to impart the proper knowledge and skills essential for any nurse who cares for the mother and child dyad. These include the assessment, promotion, and evaluation of the fetal well-being when caring for the laboring woman. Furthermore, the focus of this course will be on:

• The physiologic basis for fetal heart monitoring.
• The assessment, interpretation and management of fetal heart patterns and uterine activity.
• The impact of clinical interventions in conjunction with the evaluations.
• The importance of communication, collaboration and documentation in promoting patient safety.
• Also, case studies will be used to illustrate and reinforce the principles and physiologic concepts presented in this course

Last but not least, this course will review and provide skills stations for demonstration of fetal monitoring techniques including auscultation and electronic monitoring methods. Both noninvasive and invasive monitoring techniques are taught.