Respectful, Equitable Care Certification for Nurses and Maternal Healthcare Professionals
The Respectful, Equitable Care Certification (REC) is an evidence-based continuing education program designed for nurses, physicians, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, social workers, hospital leaders, and other maternal healthcare professionals committed to improving outcomes for all families.
Grounded in research and informed by the lived experiences of diverse families, REC goes beyond traditional clinical education. Through a unique blend of practical skills, self-reflection, and compassionate care principles, participants gain the knowledge and confidence needed to provide respectful, trauma-informed, and equitable care throughout the perinatal journey.
Unlike many healthcare training programs, REC encourages participants to explore not only what they do, but how they do it. The curriculum fosters meaningful self-reflection, strengthens communication skills, and helps healthcare professionals create safe, neutral, and supportive spaces where every patient and family feels seen, respected, and valued.
Designed to enrich everyday clinical practice, REC equips participants with evidence-based tools and strategies that can be immediately applied in hospitals, clinics, and communities.
Explore the course preview below to learn more.
Certification includes:
- 15 continuing education contact hours for nurses
- Twelve evidence-based learning modules
- Digital badges for each completed module
- A certification valid for two years
- An exclusive REC-certified lapel pin
Who is REC for?
The Respectful, Equitable Care Course is unique in the fact that is applicable to every healthcare profession.
REC is designed for:
- Labor and delivery nurses
- Postpartum nurses
- NICU nurses
- Nurse educators
- Physicians
- Midwives
- Doulas
- Lactation consultants
- Social workers
- Hospital administrators
- Public health professionals
- and more!
Hospital team interested in doing REC together? Hospitals, healthcare systems, nursing programs, and organizations can purchase REC for teams and departments to ensure staff receive consistent, evidence-based education.
*At this time the 15 continuing education credits are available for nurses only
Participant Reviews
Nancy J. Travis
MS, BSN, RN, BC, CPN, CBC, C-ONQS
The Family to Family Respectful, Equitable Care Certification will help take you and your team to the next level in care for your perinatal and neonatal patients and families. The information is invaluable and insightful as you work through the modules. It gives real life examples and provides the answers on how to examine your own feelings and helps to know how to provide equitable care for all patients that may present in the hospital or outpatient settings.
Dr. Debbie Ketchum
DNP, MAOM, RN, NEA-BC, RNC-MNN, C-EFM, REC-C
I have gained knowledge, insight, and tools to confidently lean in with respectful care in adoptions, ambiguous loss, surrogacy, those with substance use disorder, LGBTQIA+, and transgender birthing patients while being mindful of implicit bias and anti-racism. I recommend obtaining this certification to enhance our professional knowledge and advocacy, and promotion of optimal outcomes for birthing patients, families, and newborns.
Heidi Brown
MSN, RN, NE-BC, C-EFM
Labor and Delivery and OBED Nurse Manager
I think we need to take a really up close and personal look at our own biases, acknowledge them and recognize how that impacts our practice. It needs to happen frequently after events in our own lives. This isn't a conversation to happen just to check a box or under a time constraint. These conversations happen over time when surrounded by supportive peers.
Jennifer Hudson
MSN, FNP-C
I believe the most transformative lesson from the Respectful Care training is the realization that respect is not merely an ethical ideal, but a clinical necessity. Evidence shows that when patients feel respected, heard, and empowered, outcomes improve across all dimensions of maternal health. By centering respect in every aspect of care, we will have stronger patient-provider relationships, greater patient satisfaction, and improved adherence to care plans. I view each patient encounter as an opportunity to promote equity, heal mistrust, and restore dignity within a system that has often failed marginalized populations. The training has encouraged me to approach these situations with flexibility, sensitivity, and a deep respect for each person’s emotional journey.
Respectful, Equitable Care Certification FAQs
What is the Respectful, Equitable Care Certification?
How many continuing education hours are included?
Is REC self - paced or live?
Can hospitals purchase team access?
Is this course evidence-based?
Does REC include adoption and surrogacy education?
Learning Opportunities for Individuals, Teams, and Organizations
The Vault
Within The Vault, you'll find recorded webinars designed specifically for healthcare professionals and hospital staff. Thanks to the support of Huggies Healthcare, we are proud to offer free continuing education credits for nurses with every webinar completed.
Healthcare Education & Training
From webinars and continuing education to certifications and specialized training, we are proud to offer educational opportunities for healthcare professionals and hospital teams alike.
