In 2012, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation began a campaign to offer information for patients to help them make wise care choices. Goals are to promote care based on rigorous evidence, not repetitive of care already received, not harmful, and actually necessary (ABIM). The Choosing Wisely campaign has partnered with over 70 professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and American Academy of Nursing (AAN). The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses is the source of one of the 10 suggestions offered by AAN (2014). Other key nursing organizations also contributed to the AAN list. Consumer Reports (2015) has developed patient friendly resources that correspond to the messages of the professional organizations.

Some of the suggestions apply to the childbearing process and are listed in the table. I have added several for consideration; there are others that could be included. Providing information at the appropriate literacy level and in enough detail so women are empowered to make wise choices is one of the most important aspects of perinatal nursing care. Unnecessary interventions increase risk of patient harm and result in excess healthcare costs. Choosing wisely promotes patient safety and sensible use of limited health resources.

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