Fetal Care Nursing-The Birth of a Specialty

Abstract

With the rapid growth of specialized fetal care centers (FCCs) across the United States, a new area of nursing practice has emerged. Fetal care nurses provide care in FCCs to pregnant persons experiencing complex fetal conditions. This article describes the unique practice of fetal care nurses necessitated by the complexity of perinatal care and the provision of maternal-fetal surgery in FCCs. The Fetal Therapy Nurse Network has played a significant role in the evolution of this nursing practice and will serve as a platform for the generation of core competencies and the development of a potential specialty certification for fetal care nurses.

Keywords: care coordination; fetal care center; fetal care nurse; fetal surgery; fetal therapy; fetal therapy centers; maternal–fetal care nurse; maternal–fetal intervention; nursing practice; scope of practice.