2026 Maternal & Infant Health Leadership Series | Earn 1 CNE/NCPD* Contact Hour

Featuring:

• Veronica Barcelona, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN

• Adrienne McIntyre, DNP, RNC, NIC

• Cheniqua Morales, BSN, RNC

Description/Objectives:

Stigma and bias are pervasive in U.S. obstetric care and disproportionately harm marginalized birthing people. These biases are reflected in language, broadly defined as written documentation, oral language, and behaviors that communicate messages. Language that is stigmatizing or reflects bias can harm pregnant people. In this session, we will present an interactive, evidence-based session where we will give examples of stigmatizing language in obstetric care, such as “patient refuses”, “is noncompliant”, or “claims she has pain”, and how it harms patients. We will also give actionable, clear strategies for nurses to interrupt stigma and bias to improve obstetric care.

• Describe stigmatizing language in perinatal & neonatal Care

• Identify patterns of stigmatizing language and learn how to measure it

• Develop ways to identify and make changes to language in perinatal and neonatal care using QI methods

*This nursing continuing professional development activity has been submitted to the Northeast Multistate Division Education Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Brought to you through an educational grant provided by Huggies® Healthcare™ eAcademy.