Erin Martin, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Mayo Clinic, is conducting a needs assessment survey to evaluate how effectively the clinic educates expectant parents about their pain relief options for labor and delivery. She developed a survey to distribute to women who delivered babies at Mayo Clinic since January 2012. By analyzing the results and expert recommendations, Martin hopes to create an improved, multi-modal patient education module to help parents make informed choices about managing pain during childbirth. Her work aligns with Mayo Clinic's patient-centered approach and supports informed decision making. She is completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Winona State University-Rochester to gain skills that translate research into improved clinical practice and better

1. Erin Martin has children of her own so she knows there are many decisions that need to be
made when preparing to have a baby, especially regarding pain relief options for labor and
delivery. She also works as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at Mayo Clinic,
which accentuates her understanding of the choices that are available, and assists her in
helping patients make these important decisions.
In her final year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Winona State University-
Rochester, Martin is focusing much of her attention on an educational needs assessment
survey that she believes will help her and her colleagues provide the most effective education
and information to patients who are beginning to formulate theirbirth plans. She will
graduate in May 2013.
“There is a common theme of questions and misconceptions that patients have related to
pain relief options for labor and delivery,” Martin said. “What I’m trying todo is evaluate our
(Mayo Clinic’s) current system of patient education, to see what we’re doing well, and where
improvements can be made. My ultimate goal is to help patients understand what their pain
relief options are, including the risks and benefits of each option; this will hopefully lead to
improved patient satisfaction with the labor and delivery experience.”
Martin began her project by developing a formal needs assessment survey that will be
distributed to 100 women who have delivered babies at Mayo since January of 2012. She
will combine the survey results with expert recommendations for patient education to
determine how to most effectively educate expectant parents about pain relief options for
childbirth.
“My hope is to eventually create a full, multi-modal patient education module that is
presented to patients in the prenatal period. Receiving accurate information will enable
expectant parents to choose the pain relief option that is best for them.” she said.
Her efforts are part of a patient-centered approach that MayoClinic is famous for worldwide
and is consistent with the aims of current health care initiatives, including, “providing
patients with accurate, evidence-based information so that they can make informed
decisions.”
Once approved by the appropriate institutional committees, the survey will be implemented
in the OB clinic, likely by October 1. By January or February of 2013, she hopes to be in a
position to make recommendations to Mayo’s section of patient education focused on
prenatal education.
Her work in this project has been complemented greatly by her time spent in the Doctor of
Nursing Practice degree program at WSU-Rochester. Her goal in the DNP program is to
develop skills and gain knowledge to translate existing research intoclinicalpractice.

2. “The DNP program has provided me with a more global view of clinical practice,” Martin
said. “It has helped me understand the process of looking at evidence and critiquing it as
either solid or less than ideal research. I now have a more thorough understanding of the
steps involved in promoting clinical practice change.”
By 2025, the American Academy of College of Nursing will require that the DNP be the entry
level of education into practice for all advanced practice nurses.
“WSU’s program is rigorous . . . I’ve learned so much. The faculty has been very approachable
and knowledgeable. The campus facilities are great and the educational experience has been
outstanding,” she said. “There is great value in learning to critique research, evaluate the
current environment and know your stakeholders. Ultimately, this understanding makes us
better practitioners and leads to betterpatient care.”