Abstract
When nurses educate new mothers on breastfeeding, the quality and content of their teaching influences a mother’s decision to breastfeed and for how long. Thus, it is important that nursing students receive comprehensive breastfeeding instruction in their nursing programs to be proficient at assisting new mothers during clinical rotations or upon graduation. According to researchers, however, nursing schools have failed to adequately train students in breastfeeding education, citing students’ knowledge deficits as one of their concerns. At Sacramento State University’s School of Nursing, third-semester undergraduate nursing students are taught breastfeeding content in obstetrical nursing lecture and must complete 45 hours of related clinical experience. A student survey revealed that very few of them were completely satisfied with the breastfeeding instruction they had received. In addition, nearly 40% of those who had not yet completed their clinical rotation stated that they felt “insecure” to only “somewhat confident” in their ability to educate breastfeeding mothers. To remedy any possible gaps in breastfeeding instruction, four online breastfeeding modules were developed to assist students in obtaining the knowledge required to achieve lactation competency and allow iv them to review the information as often as needed. ASBSN students will evaluate the modules in an upcoming school session, and it is anticipated that they will be successful in helping prepare students to educate mothers on breastfeeding.