Aureus Medical shares travel nurse research: First-time moms in need of more accurate vaccine info

Omaha, NE (February 18, 2016) - As a travel nurse, you know moms only want the best for their babies, but research indicated that expectant parents may need some guidance if they are having a baby for the first time. Travel nursing jobs leader, Aureus Medical Group, shares need to know vaccine information for first-time moms.

According to a survey of 200 women published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 75 percent of soon-to-be moms planned on vaccinating their children based on the doctor-recommended schedule. However, a quarter of respondents were undecided or aimed to go a different route, either forgoing certain vaccinations or following a more spread-out schedule.

The survey results suggest that part of this discrepancy is due to lack of knowledge about childhood vaccines. An astounding 70 percent of respondents indicated that they did not know the recommended vaccination schedule or what vaccines their children should get. Meanwhile, the moms who planned to stray from the approved schedule were more likely to rely on the Internet for this pertinent information.

However, the study doesn't address another major vaccine-related issue plaguing patients: fear. Misinformation has made parents scared of the repercussions of vaccinating their children. Because of the great importance vaccines carry to health and safety, it's vital that all healthcare professionals, including travel nurses, work to address this issue:

Know the root cause of this fearTo be sure, studies are typically excellent sources for information, as they are grounded in facts and data. However, it's a study that launched the vaccine scare in the first place. According to research published in the BMJ, Andrew Wakefield released "bogus data" in the journal The Lancet in 1998 that linked autism to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. However, that paper was retracted in 2010, as Sunday Times investigator Brian Deer proved Wakefield manipulated evidence and had conflicting interests.

While Wakefield's claims were debunked, his fraudulent data had a lasting impact. After all, his findings weren't pulled from The Lancet until over 10 years later. As such, many people still associate vaccines with autism.

Be a source of quality information …… But also demonstrate compassion and understanding. Moms aren't vaccinating their babies because they are either scared or need more knowledge on the subject. Family, friends and the Internet have told them that protecting a child's immunity can cause autism. Meanwhile, they may simply not know where to turn for reliable information.

To keep a strong nurse-patient relationship, it's important to enter the conversation with the mindset that your patients are coming from a good place. Start by quelling the parents' fears if they exist. Explain that the vaccine-autism link has been proven false for a number of years and that vaccines are perfectly safe.

Read the full article for more on first-time moms and vaccinations.

About Aureus Medical Group:

Aureus Medical Group is a national leader in healthcare staffing specializing in the successful placement of Nursing, Advanced Practice, Cardiopulmonary, Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Laboratory, Neurodiagnostics, Radiation Oncology, and Rehabilitation Therapy professionals, as well as Physicians, in hospitals and medical facilities nationwide.  With more than 30 years of experience, Aureus Medical offers a full range of staffing options, including national contract (travel), local contract, and direct hire.  Aureus Medical is the largest affiliate of Omaha-based C&A Industries, a leading provider of human capital management solutions for more than 45 years.