DAISY ACADEMY / Professional workshop
Clinical Skills for Doulas
Observation and communication workshop within a doula’s nonclinical scope.
Pre-sale · program in development
Your self-paced learning timeline
Enrollment opensOct 16, 2026
Online access opensMar 1, 2027
Full content targetMar 8, 2027
Study available online lessons at your own pace in Wix Online Programs. The opening date marks the earliest online access. The full-content date is a development target, not a student completion deadline. Complete the required live sessions, practice and assessments for your program.
Pre-sale purchase provides access to a course still being developed. The full course is not available at purchase. Complete online study at your own pace, with required live sessions, practice and assessment.
Workshops & labs
Scheduled workshops begin at least three weeks after the full-content target for all associated programs and pathways. Complete the required preparation before attending; online study remains self-paced.
- Clinical Skills for Doulas — coached simulationApr 3, 2027In person6 instructional hours · Location: TBD · Time: TBD
Included in the listed tuition and instructional hours. Breaks do not count as instruction. Workshops and simulations do not replace required supervised client or teaching practice. Entry requirements and program assessments still apply.
Who this is for
Trained birth or postpartum doulas seeking stronger observation, documentation and care-team communication.
What you will learn
- Distinguish supportive observation from clinical assessment.
- Describe a concern clearly and seek help without offering a diagnosis.
- Use an appropriate support-space hygiene plan.
- Help a client ask questions and communicate choices while respecting clinical urgency.
- Produce an objective record and an effective handoff from a changing case.
Entry & readiness
Foundational doula training or equivalent perinatal study; signed nonclinical scope agreement. Current CPR/first aid is recommended and remains separate training.
How learning works
Blended workshop: 6 hours facilitated learning, 6 hours coached simulation and assessment, plus 4 hours independent study. Suggested pace: 2 weeks.
Practice & application
All demonstrations use cases, mock charts and role-play. Six simulation hours are included in instruction; zero supervised client-contact hours. No clinical skills credential is awarded.
Completion requirements
Complete every module and assigned artifact. Pass the knowledge assessment at 85% with all critical safety and scope items correct. Pass the applied assessment at 17/20 or higher, with at least 3/4 in each of five dimensions: accuracy, role boundaries, communication and inclusion, applied judgment, and documentation/reflection. Any critical error requires feedback and reassessment before completion. Live skills sessions are mandatory; missed instruction requires an equivalent assessed make-up.
Scope & credential clarity
Clinical literacy for a nonclinical doula role. No vaginal examinations, fetal-monitor interpretation, diagnosis, prescribing, invasive procedures or independent clinical assessment are taught. Vitals literacy means understanding language and communicating observations; it does not authorize measuring or interpreting clinical findings.
The Daisy Academy award reflects the Academy’s own competency requirements. It does not confer licensure or automatically establish external accreditation, insurance recognition or third-party certification.
Course syllabus
Teaching schedule. Instruction includes simulation and assessment; independent study and verified client practice are counted separately.
Module 01Role boundaries and clinical vocabulary
Distinguish supportive observation from clinical assessment.
120 minutes instruction + 30 minutes independent study.
Topics: Roles on the care team; clinical terms; scope agreements; asking clarifying questions.
Assignment: Annotate a mock chart with questions for the clinician and prohibited doula actions.
Module 02Observation and concern recognition
Describe a concern clearly and seek help without offering a diagnosis.
150 minutes instruction + 60 minutes independent study.
Topics: Parent and newborn observations; reported symptoms; urgent escalation resources; avoiding reassurance beyond scope.
Assignment: Sort scenario responses into urgent escalation, routine referral and unsupported advice.
Module 03Infection prevention and the support environment
Use an appropriate support-space hygiene plan.
120 minutes instruction + 30 minutes independent study.
Topics: Hand hygiene; risk-based PPE awareness; personal kit cleaning; equipment boundaries; exposure reporting.
Assignment: Demonstrate a clean support-kit setup and identify contamination risks.
Module 04Clinical conversations and informed choice
Help a client ask questions and communicate choices while respecting clinical urgency.
120 minutes instruction + 30 minutes independent study.
Topics: Consent; language access; reflective listening; communicating limits; team hierarchy.
Assignment: Complete a three-way client-doula-clinician role-play with feedback.
Module 05Records, handoff and applied case
Produce an objective record and an effective handoff from a changing case.
210 minutes instruction + 90 minutes independent study.
Topics: Consent to share; dates and times; factual language; referral follow-through; capstone and debrief.
Assignment: Complete the integrated scenario, handoff note and scope reflection.
Final assignment
Respond to an evolving fictional birth/postpartum concern: describe objective observations, activate the appropriate care team, support consent and privacy, and submit a factual handoff note. Explain at least two actions outside doula scope.
Materials and preparation
Digital course workbook, scenario pack and assignment templates; access to a device for reading and submitted work. Use fictional or de-identified examples. Faculty assign selected readings within the stated study hours.