Interactive Nursing Education to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding

Background: Although breast milk provides the most robust human nutrition and offers extensive immunological protection, many mothers are still hesitant to breastfeed exclusively, and the rate of exclusive breastfeeding declines significantly over time in the postpartum period. Objective: The objective is to educate nurses on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: Breastfeeding education was provided to nurses (n = 11) at an urban academic medical center. The education included hands-on skills training, case scenarios, and interactive games. Knowledge was measured using an eight-item multiple choice pre- and posttest. Exclusive breastfeeding rates were measured before and after the 10-week intervention period using a report on infant feeding practices. Results: Comparison of pre- and posttest scores revealed nurses' knowledge increased by 25%; however, exclusive breastfeeding rates were not impacted. Conclusion: Several limitations may have impacted the rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Other strategies may be needed to provide a holistic and effective approach. Barriers related to the lack of exclusive breastfeeding should be explored further. Implications for Nursing: Ongoing education is an effective method to increase nurses' knowledge. Advanced practice nurses, in a unique position to impact nursing practice and influence health, are encouraged to continue to identify and evaluate methods to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding.