Impacting Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Rates by Educating Pre-Licensure Students

Abstract

By Bridget Eichenberg, Nursing ; Matt Cairns , Nursing

Advisor: Donna Green

Abstract: In the United States, 1 out of 10 women experience postpartum depression (PPD) that sometimes lasts up to and beyond one year postpartum. PPD has been shown to be up to 20 times more common in individuals who belong to populations considered high risk, such as those with previous mental health diagnoses. Overall, many remain undiagnosed due to inadequate screening. The purpose of our project is to educate prelicensure nursing students on the importance of ongoing screening for postpartum depression for up to a year following birth, and across the broad range of clinical practice areas. This project will provide education on the identification of cues, risk factors, and common screening tools used to assess postpartum depression. This project will evaluate the impact on prelicensure student's level of understanding and confidence regarding their assessment of and use of these tools in their clinical practice.