Aromatherapy is the practice of therapeutic use of essential plant-based oils. Essential oils and aromatherapy have been used in the care of women for centuries. The published research has used small samples and often combines other complementary therapies with aromatherapy; however, the use of essential oils has not been shown to cause harm and is accepted by women. Aromatherapy mixtures are appropriate for use by nurses in labor and delivery settings. The article reviews the literature and discusses appropriate essential oil mixtures for use in women's health setting and labor and delivery.

Quality management in clinical practice involves the use of numerous techniques that monitor the quality of care clinicians provide. Quality improvement is an approach to quality management that emphasizes system and processes, rather than a focus on individual performance. Quality improvement examines objective data to improve these processes, even when high standards of performance appear to have been met. Benchmarking measures one's processes and outcomes against "best in class" and is a part of a quality improvement program. By using benchmarking to provide goals for realistic process improvement and identification of the most efficient and effective methods of meeting all of their customer's needs, health care providers can document their effectiveness in terms of cost, quality, and satisfaction. This article details the American College of Nurse-Midwives' benchmarking project and presents benchmarks for obstetric practice from the year 2004.

The use of over-the-counter medications by pregnant women is common. Over-the-counter medications are widely assumed to be harmless because they may be purchased without prescription. Some consumers do not consider them to be drugs. Women may not realize that over-the-counter medications have the potential to harm them or their fetuses. This article reviews selected over-the-counter medications commonly used by pregnant women, including pharmacology, risks, Food and Drug Administration risk classifications, and strategies for counseling clients.

The right of adolescents to consent to various types of healthcare vary widely from state to state. Nurses have a responsibility to be aware of the issues surrounding adolescent consent and to know what state statutes guide the healthcare provider. This article describes the issues surrounding adolescent consents, including contraception, abortion, prenatal care, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, confidentiality, and paternity among other topics.