Obstetric Issues Paper

NURS-330 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family

Purpose of Assignment
To examine a controversial issue, whether political or publicly debated womens health,
obstetric, or neonatal, and present both sides equally.
Student Approach to Assignment
One of our required assignments for Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family provided
me the opportunity to do something I love, research. I remember spending hours pouring over
material to find the perfect topic to complete this assignment. I finally found a gem, three-parent
embryos. I was astonished to find a plethora of reasons to support this pioneering technology and
various reasons to oppose its development.
Reason for Inclusion of this Assignment in the Portfolio
I chose to include this assignment in my portfolio because it shows how far Ive come in
nursing school. Obstetrics is a notoriously difficult class in Old Dominion Universitys School of
Nursing. I included this assignment in my portfolio because Im proud of its succinct writing
style on a controversial topic and overcoming the adversity I faced in this challenging class.
The following program objectives are highlighted:
Research
Applies research-based knowledge from the arts, humanities and sciences to complement
nursing practice
Example: By researching and writing the ethical issues paper I became aware of a
controversial topic, three-parent embryos. Through research, I learned about genetic
mitochondrial diseases and in vitro fertilization. By learning about these obstetrical
issues, this assignment has contributed to my development towards an effective,
knowledgeable registered nurse.
Professionalism
Understands the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and health
care delivery, as well as limits to ones own scope of practice
Example: In this assignment, I learned about the legal ramifications of three-parent
embryos. Nurses are educators and it is within their scope of practice to provide the
patient different treatment modalities. However, at the time of my submission of this
assignment, three-parent embryos was a hotly debated topic and initial testing had not
been approved in the United States. Thus, nurses can provide information and insight
to options but cannot recommend a course of action that is still being considered on a
federal level.

 Culture
Demonstrates sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health, and how these
beliefs influence an individuals reactions to the illness experience and end of life
Example: As part of the ethical issues assignment, we were required to discuss
proponents and opponents of our selected issue. I discussed how three-parent
embryos and in vitro fertilization is a delicate, and sometimes, religious topic that
requires finesse and tact. Proponents support three-parent embryos because it can be a
life-saving intervention. However, some individuals oppose three-parent embryos
because they view these technologies as unnatural.