The Role of Nursing Assessment in Decreasing Maternal Mortality and Severe Maternal Morbidity: Educating Third Year Nursing Students

Abstract

By Olivia Lusby, Nursing; Abby Oswald, Nursing; Brandy Kelly, Nursing; Emily Hannan, Nursing; Alexa Cline, Nursing; Madison Ross, Nursing

Advisor: Donna Green

Presentation ID: 171

Abstract: In the United States, over 700 women die each year from problems related to pregnancy or delivery; and two-thirds of these deaths are preventable. Each year tens of thousands of women suffer from preventable peripartum-related health problems and complications that can cause long-lasting health consequences. Additionally, peripartum status is often not properly recognized or addressed, leading to cardinal signs and symptoms of life-threatening complications being missed. The purpose of our educational project was to train University of Cincinnati Junior nursing students on peripartum risk factors that are critical to assess in an acute point-of-care encounter in any specialty setting. We created a ten-minute educational presentation and relevant videos to educate the students on the definitions and common causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States, populations most at risk, and assessment points that are critical to collect in an emergency situation. We utilized scored pre and post-session tests to measure the degree of understanding that our education provided, our results are still pending.