Please consider participating in this research involving reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality in the ED

Emergency department RNs are essential to this project, which generally focuses on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. The project evaluates emergency nurses’ knowledge, confidence, and adherence to clinical practice guidelines for this global healthcare issue. This project aims to develop a clinical pathway or decision tool to assist in the timely identification of women presenting with hypertension in the acute care setting, consistent with the consensus statement from ENA and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN, 2020).

Of the 15 standards recommended as clinical guidelines for emergency nurses, three are most relevant to the DNP project:

1) that perinatal and emergency nurses work together to evaluate staff and assess clinical competency in caring for pregnant and postpartum patients during emergencies

2) provide education and training for emergency and obstetric nurses on common high-risk and life-threatening obstetric conditions, early warning signs of maternal decline, and protocol management; and

3) include assessments to confirm pregnancy and postpartum status in triage procedures. These standards are recommended for adoption in emergency services to better prepare for critical conditions that may threaten fetal and maternal health (ENA et al., 2020).

To ensure statistical validity, as many ED nurses as possible should access the dedicated postpartum website via a QR code or the URL (both provided on the attached flyer) to complete the pre-survey, which includes sociodemographic questions such as age, gender, education level, work shift, and years of experience, as well as evidence-based questions that assess knowledge, confidence, and adherence to clinical guidelines on the signs and symptoms of postpartum hypertension, appropriate interventions, and management strategies. 

The 30-minute structured, evidence-based educational module follows the pre-survey and provides information on the prevalence of this condition, its signs and symptoms for early detection, and interventions for managing obstetric emergencies. A post-implementation survey is the final section of this postpartum hypertension study and assesses the impact of the structured intervention. Upon completion of all three sections of the study, participants will be able to download a certificate as documentation of staff training in caring for pregnant and postpartum patients.  

The benefits of this project not only connect knowledge and practice related to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy but also encourage adherence to regulatory policies, such as those issued by The Joint Commission (2019), perinatal safety standards for accredited hospitals, intended to improve the quality and safety of care across all stages of pregnancy and the postpartum period, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2024), whose proposed payment updates to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and to the Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that provide obstetrical services. More importantly, this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project has the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients affected by this growing healthcare issue. Participation is voluntary, there are no risks, and participant information will remain confidential.