What Are the Goals & Philosophy of Reproductive Health Nursing?

Reproductive health nursing is a fairly new field. Working with couples undergoing fertility treatments can be very rewarding, but also quite stressful, as patients are not sick but are under tremendous stress and are anxious to maintain control, according to therapist Aline Zoldbrod.

Patients

Fertility patients are generally young and often well-educated. Their stress over not getting pregnant makes them anxious and sometimes demanding. Nurses need a great deal of sensitivity to work in this area.

Relationships

Fertility nurses and patients have very involved relationships, often talking on the phone every day. Maintaining an emotional distance is essential for the nurse but difficult at times.

Philosophy

Every fertility nurse's philosophy should be that the patient comes first, that they have a right to be informed and that their participation in their care should be encouraged.

Goals

Every fertility nurse's goal should be to provide supportive, informative care, allowing the patient to control what's possible, and being empathetic without becoming overly involved.

Considerations

Fertility nursing isn't for everyone. Interactions with patients can be intense and often emotionally draining. Not everyone will get pregnant, which can stress the nurse as well as the patient. Being supportive without getting depressed by the job is essential.

References

• Men, Women, and Infertility: Intervention and Treatment Strategies; Aline Penny Zoldbrod; Lexington Books; 1993