Respectful Maternity Care Program
Are you and your organization providing respectful maternity care?
Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is an approach to care that emphasizes the fundamental rights of women, newborns, and families, promoting equitable access to evidence-based care while recognizing unique needs and preferences (Shakibazadeh et al., 2018). Attitudes and behaviors of health care providers are entrenched in cultural norms, and implicit and explicit bias may cause unintended harm during patient interactions (Howell et al., 2018). These factors may lead to harmful consequences and place patients at greater risk for not receiving appropriate attention to address individual concerns or quality of care, specifically in the intrapartum and postpartum periods (Levine & Lowe, 2015; Miller et al., 2016; Saluja & Bryant, 2021).
The Respectful Maternity Care Implementation Toolkit provides you with the tools and resources you need to implement the 10-Step “C.A.R.E. P.A.A.T.T.H.” within your organization. Make the commitment today to provide Respectful Maternity Care to every patient, every interaction, every time!
Access Resources
RMC Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline (EBG): Free for members/$54.95 for nonmembers
RMC Implementation Toolkit (RMC-IT): Free for members/$29.95 for nonmembers
RMC EBG + RMC -IT: Free for members/ $74.95 for nonmembers
RMC Single Facility License for both EBG and Implementation Toolkit for institutional access: $300 per facility*
*For facility wide implementation please contact productsales@awhonn.org.
With the purchase of the RMC Facility License, the resources in the RMC Toolkit and the EBG may be downloaded, saved and printed for clinical use.
For questions or other republication uses, please contact permissions@awhonn.org.
New Additions to the Toolkit: Patient Facing Brochures and Infographics Available in Multiple Languages
What’s New
RMC Train-the-Trainer Program – Coming Soon
We’re expanding the RMC Train-the-Trainer program to help staff implement respectful maternity care. The updated program will include support during implementation, more patient education tools, and translated resources for non-English-speaking populations.
RMC Designation – Launching Fall 2025
Hospitals can soon apply for RMC designation at Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels to showcase their commitment to respectful care. Designations reflect progress and impact on patient outcomes, with a renewal process to maintain alignment with RMC principles.
Learn More
Read the press release to explore what’s ahead for the RMC program.
AWHONN gratefully acknowledges the work of the individuals who have contributed their time and expertise to the development of the Respectful Maternity Care Program.
- Team Lead: Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC
- AWHONN Nurse Leader: Catherine M. Hill, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
- Shawana Burnette, DNP, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, CLNC
- Nastassia K. Davis, DNP, MSN, RN, IBCLC
- Team Lead: Madelyne Z. Greene, PhD, RN
- AWHONN Nurse Leader: Catherine M. Hill, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
- Jennifer E. Wissemann, D.N.P., RNC-LRN, RNC-OB, CNE, C-ONQS, Co-Lead
- Laura Bacon Ruck BSN, RNC-OB
- Lisa Z. Klein, DNP, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB, RNC-LRN
- Marla Nichols, RN, BSN, MSN, CNE, IBCLC
- Madeline Virginia Tiani, RN, MSN
- Caroline Toby, DNP, CNM
- Team Lead: Rose L. Horton, MSM, RN-OB, NEA-BC
- AWHONN Nurse Leader: Sarah Copple, MSN, RNC-MNN
- Shawana Burnette, DNP, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, CLNC
- Nastassia K. Davis, DNP, MSN, RN, IBCLC
- Christine Kidd, MSN, RNC-MNN, FNP-BC
- Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC
Purpose: To advance the implementation of Respectful Maternity Care practices across healthcare settings, ensuring equitable, dignified, and patient-centered care for all birthing individuals and newborns. The multidisciplinary collaborative will work to increase awareness and accessibility, expanding the reach and utilization of recommended processes, policies, and programs that foster respectful maternity care. The RMCC will also help identify and address barriers to successful implementation and strategies to overcome the barriers.
Members:
- Sarah Copple MSN, RNC-MNN, C-ONQS: AWHONN Staff Lead
- Karen Crowley, DNP, APRN-BC, WHNP, ANP, CNE
- Amy Ushry, MPH, BSN, RN, CCM: ACOG
- Michelle Munroe DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM, FAAN: ACNM
- Beth Quinn, MSN-RNC, MNN: CWISH
- Heather Nixon, MD: SOAP
- Shari Kelly, DNP, RN, NE-BC, C-ONQS, RNC-OB
- Kendra Bailiff MSN, RNC-MNN
- Shawana Burnette, DNP, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, CLNC, FAWHONN
- Sabrina Torres – doula
- April Chavez – patient
- Charles Johnson – family member
Purpose: To establish criteria for and maintain status of three levels of designation for the RMC program. This will include application criteria for the levels, artifacts for submission of designation, review process, review rubrics, notification process, redesignation process, and frequency of national calls. In addition, the advisory board will determine the qualifications, length of service, selection, and training of the review committee and will participate in the inaugural designation process.
It is AWHONN’s goal to have three levels of designations that demonstrate:
- Commitment to RMC through implementation of the RMC program (Bronze)
- Improvement of nurse and patient experiences (Silver)
- Improvement of health outcomes (Gold)
Members:
- Sarah Copple MSN, RN-MNN, C-ONQS
- Karen Crowley, DNP, APRN-BC, WHNP, ANP, CNE
- Sharilyn Kelly DNP, RN, NE-BC, C-ONQS, RNC-OB
- Lori Allan RNC-OB
- Elizabeth Polinard Ph.D, RN
- Tina Morris MSN, BSN, RNC-EFM
- Bridget Funk PhD, CNE, C-ONQS, RN
- Krista Jackson CNS, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, C-EFM, REC-C
Sponsorship of this educational resource was provided by Huggies® Healthcare™.
© Copyright 2022 by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. All rights reserved. Print copies of the RMC Toolkit only are permitted for clinical use within a single accessing facility. For all other publication or dissemination requests, contact permissions@awhonn.org.
