A comprehensive fetal monitoring program for nursing practice and education.

Fetal monitoring is a critical part of obstetric nursing. Health-care institutions must educate staff, validate their competency, and evaluate their practice to assure high-quality care in fetal monitoring. This article chronicles the development of a comprehensive program for nursing education and practice in fetal monitoring. Basic education and credentialing, recredentialing, in-service and continuing education, policies and procedures, standards of care, terminology, quality assurance, and linkage with a professional advancement system are reviewed.