Dados do Trabalho

Title

THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY BEYOND THE KNOWLEDGE OF MIDWIFE NURSING

Objective

To characterize the importance of theoretical and scientific knowledge in nursing care for Assisted Reproductive Technology, promoting appropriate care and reducing unfamiliarity among nurse-midwives.

Methods

This study involves an integrative review that was conducted by taking the question "What is the importance of the knowledge of Assisted Reproductive Technology beyond Midwife Nursing?”. The review followed the PICOs strategy: P (participants): the studies examined; I (intervention): the approach to Assisted Reproductive Technology content; C (comparison): the postgraduate students; and O (outcome): the importance of the content described in this specific literature. The search was conducted by looking into the databases PubMed, Medline, Lilacs and Scielo, from 2013 to 2023, using the related descriptors “Assisted Reproductive Technology” and “Nursing”. The limitations presented in the search were the scarcity of studies that address the topic in question. Initially, 32 articles were found using the provided descriptors. The inclusion criteria were original articles available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Each article was evaluated by two reviewers. Subsequently, 11 articles were excluded because they were not aligned with the objective or were duplicates. In a second analysis, a full reading of 21 articles was conducted, and 8 of them which were relevant to the theme and objective of the study in question were selected.

Results

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is a set of techniques, procedures, and biotechnological interventions on the human reproductive process¹. Since the first birth through ART in 1978 in England, the medical scientific community has been sharing knowledge in pursuit of improving in this field. In Brazil, this milestone occurred in 1984 when the first successful case was achieved, resulting in the birth of a baby through ART². The historical milestone for nursing in ART in Brazil happened in the 1990s, when guidance for infertile couples was provided by nurse-midwives, professionals who occupied this role without formal training for this purpose³. In recent years, the number of Assisted Human Reproduction Centers (AHRC) has been increasing. Currently, there are 193 AHRCs in Brazil4, which demonstrates a growing and promising field in the job market for nursing. A qualitative study reports the importance of the nurse professional as part of the multidisciplinary team that provides care for the couples/individuals seeking to build families5. Several international studies corroborate the importance of nursing care throughout the journey of individuals undergoing ART 6,7,8,9,10,11. Nursing professionals who perform both clinical and managerial roles in ART face the lack of specific support for their field of practice, such as a postgraduate course1,5. Considering that the best practices are based on evidence, access to high-quality information becomes something indispensable to drive professional growth. By staying informed with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines, nursing professionals can enhance their skills and competencies, providing optimal care and support to individuals undergoing ART. This continuous pursuit of knowledge and adherence to evidence-based practices contribute significantly to the overall success and positive outcomes in this field.

Conclusion

To achieve excellent, humane, and scientifically grounded care, it is imperative that institutions promote specialized technical training programs for nursing professionals. Some postgraduate courses in nursing midwife currently cover the content of ART. However, to this date, there are no records of specific postgraduate courses in ART registered with the Ministry of Education and Culture and validated by the Federal Nursing Council. It is crucial that initiatives are developed in this direction, aiming to enhance the qualification of nurses in ART. Only then, we can ensure healthcare of high standards that are fully tailored to the needs of the scenario.

Keywords

Nurse-midwife, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Education, Nursing Care, Nursing.

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