Does the Coping Assessment for Laboring Moms (CALM) Scale Enhance Perception of Nursing Presence?

ABSTRACT

Traditional 0-to-10 pain assessment may be inadequate during labor. The Coping Assessment for Laboring Moms (CALM) scale was developed to focus on facial, behavioral, psychosocial, vocalization, and verbal expressions to aid holistic nursing support during childbirth. Using a comparative design, the 0-to-10 pain and CALM scales were evaluated to determine differences in women's perceptions of nursing presence using the Positive Presence Index during labor at a community hospital in the Pacific Northwest. Positive Presence Index scores for knowing what would work best for me, comforting touch, taking care of everything so I could concentrate, and understanding what I was saying were significantly higher among women when nurses used the CALM tool to guide labor support. The CALM scale needs further testing with a larger, more diverse population.