Kiwi Vacuum Delivery System: A Training and Competency Checklist for L&D Units

A training and competency checklist for the Kiwi vacuum delivery system gives a labor and delivery unit one shared standard for who may use the device, how they learn it, and how that skill is checked and kept current. The checklist below is a framework that L&D educators, nurse managers and obstetric leads can adapt. It is not a clinical protocol. Clinical decisions belong to the operator, the manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU), professional guidance from bodies such as ACOG and RCOG, and your facility's own policies.

If you are still choosing a device or setting up procurement, start with our Kiwi Complete Vacuum Delivery System L&D Purchase Guide. For a side-by-side look at device options, see our 2026 vacuum delivery system comparison. This post assumes the device is already on your shelves and focuses on people and process.

Why a device-specific checklist matters

The Kiwi Complete Vacuum Delivery System is a disposable, single-operator ventouse. Its OmniCup has a flexible stem, and the vacuum is generated with an integrated hand-held PalmPump that has green, yellow and red visual pressure zones. That design changes the workflow compared with a traditional metal cup that relies on a separate pump and a second person running suction.

Because one clinician now controls both cup and vacuum, a unit's training needs to cover a few things that a generic operative-delivery module may not:

• Reading the PalmPump's visual indicator while maintaining traction.
• Handling a flexible stem rather than a rigid cup, especially for cup placement in occiput posterior (OP) and occiput transverse (OT) positions.
• Single-use handling: package inspection, sterility checks and disposal per biohazard protocol.
• The changed role of the assisting nurse or midwife, who no longer runs a pump but still has documentation, monitoring and escalation duties.

Part 1: Define scope and roles

Before anyone trains, agree in writing on who does what. A short scope statement reduces confusion at 3 a.m.

• Credentialed operators. List which roles may perform vacuum-assisted delivery under your facility's privileging rules (for example attending obstetricians, fellows, senior residents under supervision, or other credentialed providers where local policy allows).
• Supervision levels. State when direct supervision is required and who can provide it.
• Nursing and midwifery roles. Define responsibilities for room setup, device retrieval, fetal monitoring, timekeeping, documentation and calling for help.
• Neonatal team. Clarify when the neonatal team is notified or present, per your policy.
• Escalation path. Name who is called if the attempt is not progressing, and how the team moves to an alternative mode of delivery.

Part 2: Knowledge training (didactic)

Every trainee should complete a knowledge module before hands-on practice. Suggested content:

• Indications and prerequisites for operative vaginal delivery, taken from current ACOG and/or RCOG guidance and your facility policy.
• The device itself: OmniCup, flexible stem, PalmPump, visual vacuum indicator, and what is in the box (one complete system with OmniCup, integrated PalmPump handle, sterile single-use packaging and IFU).
• Fetal positions the device is indicated for: occiput anterior (OA), OP, OT and compound positions.
• The concept of the flexion point and why accurate cup placement matters.
• Vacuum management in principle, as described in the IFU. Trainees should know the PalmPump is calibrated to a maximum of 0.8 kg/cm² (600 mmHg), and should learn the step-by-step pressure sequence directly from the IFU and local protocol rather than from memory or a blog post.
• Criteria for abandoning an attempt, as defined in professional guidelines and your policy.
• Recognized maternal and neonatal complications, what to look for after delivery, and how to communicate with the family.
• Consent and documentation requirements.

A short written or online quiz at the end of this module gives you a record that each trainee has covered the material.

Part 3: Simulation and hands-on skills

Simulation is where a single-operator device really needs practice. Consider using a birthing simulator or mannequin and, where budget allows, dedicated training units so live-use stock is not consumed.

Skills station checklist

Skill	What the assessor looks for
Pre-procedure verification	Verbalizes the prerequisite checklist from local policy; confirms consent and team readiness
Device preparation	Checks expiry date, opens sterile package correctly, inspects cup and PalmPump for defects
Cup placement	Identifies the flexion point and places the cup in OA, OP and OT simulated positions
Tissue check	Checks for maternal tissue under the cup rim before increasing vacuum
Vacuum control	Uses the PalmPump and reads the indicator zones as described in the IFU
Traction technique	Coordinates traction with simulated contractions and maternal effort, in the axis of the pelvic curve
Recognizing failure	Recognizes lack of progress or cup detachment and verbalizes the abandon-and-escalate plan
Release and disposal	Releases vacuum, disposes of the whole device per biohazard protocol
Communication	Uses closed-loop communication with the assisting nurse/midwife and neonatal team
Documentation	Completes the procedure note per facility template

Team drills

Run at least some sessions as full-team drills rather than solo skill checks. Include the assisting nurse or midwife, a timekeeper and a neonatal responder. Practise a scenario where the attempt does not progress, so the team rehearses the handover to an alternative delivery route.

Part 4: Supervised clinical practice

After simulation sign-off, trainees typically move to supervised live procedures. Your facility decides how many supervised cases are needed before independent practice. Use a simple log for each case:

• Date, supervisor, fetal position, and outcome (in de-identified form, per privacy rules).
• Supervisor's rating of placement, vacuum control, traction and teamwork.
• Any learning points or follow-up actions.

Part 5: Competency sign-off and renewal

Competency is not a one-time event. Operative vaginal delivery volume varies between units, and skills fade when cases are infrequent.

• Initial sign-off: didactic module complete, simulation checklist passed, supervised cases logged.
• Renewal: set a review interval in policy, often tied to annual skills days, with a refresher simulation.
• Low-volume operators: consider extra simulation for anyone who has not performed a case recently.
• Case review: include vacuum deliveries in your unit's regular quality review so lessons feed back into training.

Part 6: Supply and readiness checks

Training only helps if the device is there when needed. Add a few items to your L&D room-readiness checks:

• Confirm Kiwi stock levels and location on each shift check.
• Check expiry dates. Shelf life is 3 years from date of sterilization, so rotate stock first-in, first-out.
• Keep a copy of the IFU with stock and in the unit's education folder.
• Separate training units from clinical stock and label them clearly.
• Remove any unit with a damaged or opened package.

For hospital L&D procurement or teaching-hospital training kit orders, email sales@scimedstore.com or message us on WhatsApp at +1-669-265-9353.

Frequently asked questions

Is this checklist a clinical protocol for Kiwi vacuum delivery?

No. It is a training and competency framework. Clinical decisions should follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, professional guidance such as ACOG and RCOG, and your facility's protocols.

Does the Kiwi need a second person to run the vacuum?

No. The Kiwi is a single-operator device with an integrated hand-held PalmPump, so the obstetrician generates and monitors vacuum without an assistant running a separate pump. The assisting nurse or midwife still has monitoring, documentation and escalation roles.

Which fetal positions should simulation training cover?

The Kiwi is indicated for occiput anterior (OA), occiput posterior (OP), occiput transverse (OT) and compound fetal positions, so simulation should include cup placement practice across these positions.

How long can Kiwi units be kept in stock?

Shelf life is 3 years from the date of sterilization. Check expiry dates during routine room-readiness checks and rotate stock first-in, first-out.

Can the Kiwi be reprocessed and reused for training?

No. The Kiwi Complete Vacuum Delivery System is single-use and disposable. Keep dedicated training units separate from clinical stock and label them clearly.