Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons^™

Neonatal Assessment And Vr: Designing 3d Simulation Training For Prehospital Clinicians, Michella G. Hill, Luke Hopper, Belinda Flanagan, Sara Hansen, Alecka Miles, Jess Watson, Sean Cashman, Kirstie Balding, Peggy Dysktra, Joshua Johnson, Brennen Mills

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Prehospital emergency care requires clinicians to manage a vast array of medical and trauma incidents, including rare events such as obstetrics (i.e., childbirth) emergencies. Emergency births can have life-threatening complications such as neonatal respiratory distress potentially leading to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Management of low-frequency high-risk (LFHR) events such as birthing and immediate neonatal care occurring outside the planned place of birth require expert clinical management. Underutilised skill and knowledge of LFHR events decay within 12-months of being taught. LFHR events are often overlooked for refresher training due to the low occurrence of such cases, putting LFHR patients at even greater risk …

Internet Use And Decision-Making Processes Among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study, Ayça Balmumcu, Endam Çetinkaya Ak, Sabriye Uçan Yamaç

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restricted access to in-person health services, especially in rural areas. This increased reliance on the internet for health information and decision-making was particularly notable among pregnant women. This study aimed to investigate the role of internet use in decision-making among pregnant women.

Methods: This analytical, cross-sectional study examined 384 pregnant women living in a rural district of Turkey who attended family health centers for prenatal care. Data were collected using the Internet Decision-Making Scale in Pregnancy and a questionnaire assessing internet use patterns during the pandemic.

Results: Pregnant women demonstrated …

Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Group Education In An Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project, Nina Prieto

Master's Projects and Capstones

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requires timely and consistent education to support effective self-management and reduce maternal and fetal complications. Baseline assessment of an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic identified variation in educational materials, teaching approaches, referral processes, scheduling, and workflows across English- and Spanish-language GDM group visits. This quality improvement project aimed to standardize the group visit process and increase staff compliance with standardized materials and workflows from 0% to 50% over a 12-week period. Data were collected through direct observation of group and individual education sessions, stakeholder feedback, review of existing materials, referral and attendance patterns, and workflow analysis. These …

Standardizing Group Visits For Gestational Diabetes Education: A Quality Improvement Initiative In An Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic, Nha Nguyen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: At an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic in Northern California, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) education is delivered inconsistently across nurse practitioners (NPs) and registered dietitians (RDs), with no standardized curriculum, referral criteria, or educational materials. Aim: By August 12, 2026, this project aimed to develop and implement a standardized GDM group visit framework for NPs, RDs, and scheduling staff in maternal-fetal medicine clinic, increasing compliance with standardized referral, enrollment, and educational processes from a baseline of 0% to 50%. Methods: Using baseline observations, workflow assessment, stakeholder input, and a literature review, the QI team developed standardized bilingual slide …

Reducing Variation, Improving Outcomes: Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Education In A Clinical Microsystem, Thanh Le

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Variations in referral, scheduling, delivery of educational information, patient materials, and documentation hampered the quality of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) education in the outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic. Purpose: The aim of the quality improvement project was to boost adherence to a standardized GDM group education framework from 0 to 50% in the course of 12 weeks and assess attendance at group visits. Methods: The microsystem analysis was conducted based on observations of group visits conducted in Spanish and English, examination of current processes and resources in use, educator pre-survey, SWOT analysis, and cause and effect analysis. The implementation of …

Creating Consistency: Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Group Visit Framework In High-Risk Obstetric Care, Danielle Pack

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requires timely and consistent education to promote effective self-management and improve maternal and fetal outcomes. Baseline observations at a Santa Clara County high-risk obstetric clinic identified variation in educational materials, educator delivery, referral processes, and workflows between English- and Spanish-language GDM group visits. A review of the literature supported standardized diabetes education and group prenatal care as strategies to improve consistency, efficiency, and patient access. Aim: This quality improvement project aimed to develop and implement a standardized GDM group visit framework for nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, and scheduling staff, with the goal of increasing compliance …

Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Education To Improve Patient Knowledge And Care Consistency In A Prenatal Clinic Setting, Wynn Zara

Master's Projects and Capstones

The gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) group visit framework aims to improve consistency of GDM education by standardizing referral processes, educational materials, staff workflows, and patient communication. Although evidence-based GDM education supports patient self-management and improved maternal-fetal outcomes, variability in education delivery contributed to inconsistent care within the outpatient maternal-fetal medicine setting. This quality improvement project was conducted in an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic in Santa Clara County serving pregnant patients diagnosed with GDM. To address this gap, a standardized GDM group visit framework was developed and implemented using structured educational resources, referral criteria, and communication workflows. The intervention was evaluated …

The Measles Serology Initiative: A Quality Improvement Intervention To Increase Provider Compliance With Rubeola Serology Screening, Erika S. Martinez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase provider adherence to Rubeola IgG serology screening during prenatal visits at an outpatient women’s health clinic by 10% from a baseline adherence rate of 63.3%.

Background

Rubeola remains a highly contagious viral infection that poses health risks for nonimmune pregnant patients and their newborns. With increasing Rubeola cases and the importance of identifying immunity status during pregnancy, consistent prenatal screening practices are essential. Baseline data demonstrated inconsistent adherence to Rubeola IgG screening recommendations, highlighting the need for workflow interventions to improve provider compliance.

Methodology

A pre-post QI design …

Integrating Matrescence Into Birth Worker Practice: A Practice Improvement Project, Kelsey B. Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect 20–25% of mothers worldwide and are a leading cause of maternal complications. Stigma, fragmented care, and limited provider training leave families vulnerable, while birth workers offer trusted, continuous support.

Problem: Birth workers' maternal mental health (MMH) training is minimal and often excludes matrescence, the developmental transition to motherhood, limiting their ability to distinguish normal adjustment from clinical PMADs and delaying intervention.

Methods: A single-group, pre-/post-test design evaluated a matrescence-informed workshop at Roots Community Health's 2nd Annual Symposium. Anonymous surveys measured knowledge, attitudes, and confidence, analyzed with Mann–Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and …

Reducing Primary Cesarean Births Among Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex (Ntsv) Patients Through Structured Multidisciplinary Communication, Toyin Ajani

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: Primary cesarean birth among nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) patients remained a persistent quality and safety concern in obstetric care. Unnecessary cesarean birth was associated with increased maternal morbidity, neonatal complications, prolonged recovery, higher healthcare costs, and adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancies. Problem: A Northern California labor and delivery unit identified an elevated NTSV cesarean birth rate of 26.8%, exceeding the national benchmark of approximately 23%. Variability in provider communication, inconsistent labor management practices, and lack of standardized interdisciplinary collaboration contributed to this quality gap. Context: The project was conducted in a high-volume labor and delivery microsystem serving a …

Improving Peer Feedback Participation Through Psychological Safety Interventions In Labor & Delivery Nurses, Lindsey C. Hora

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract 

Background: Labor and Delivery (L&D) units require effective communication, speaking up, and team learning to support safe care. Psychological safety informed this quality improvement project as a contextual strategy to strengthen peer feedback engagement.  

Problem: Peer feedback participation among eligible L&D registered nurses at a large acute care hospital in Santa Clara, California, was 14.29% (N = 112) below the 30% project target and 80% organizational target. Low participation limited routine feedback for professional development, recognition, and team learning.

Interventions: Interventions included psychological safety education, peer feedback reinforcement, workflow integration, platform navigation support, dedicated completion time, and unit champions. …

Increasing Postpartum Appointment Attendance Rates, Tanya Lister

Doctor of Nursing Practice Posters and Presentations

Background: Postpartum visits provide an opportunity to detect and address potential complications, monitor healing and recovery, and offer guidance and support during the transition into motherhood. Current research shows that appointment reminders increase healthcare appointment attendance rates, whether delivered via text messages or phone calls.

Purpose: The purpose of this academic project was to plan, implement, and evaluate a process change within a single health facility to increase postpartum visit attendance rates.

Methods: This evidence-based scholarly project used telephone calls to remind patients scheduled for postpartum visits of their appointment dates and times. Appointment reminder phone calls were completed the …

Increasing Postpartum Appointment Attendance Rates, Tanya Lister

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Postpartum visits provide an opportunity to detect and address potential complications, monitor healing and recovery, and offer guidance and support during the transition into motherhood. Current research shows that appointment reminders increase healthcare appointment attendance rates, whether delivered via text messages or phone calls.

Purpose: The purpose of this academic project was to plan, implement, and evaluate a process change within a single health facility to increase postpartum visit attendance rates.

Methods: This evidence-based scholarly project used telephone calls to remind patients scheduled for postpartum visits of their appointment dates and times. Appointment reminder phone calls were completed the …

Improving Iv Access Outcomes In Obstetric Care Through A-Diva Scale Utilization And Point-Of-Care Ultrasound, Parth S. Patel, Matthew T. Komorowski

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Obstetric (OB) patients frequently present physiological changes, including edema, obesity, and peripheral vasoconstriction, that increase the risk of difficult intravenous access (DIVA). Multiple IV attempts can delay time-sensitive therapies in obstetric emergencies and increase patient discomfort and provider workload. Research studies have supported the use of the Modified Adult Difficult Intravenous Access (A-DIVA) scale to assess patients for DIVA, and the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) guided peripheral intravenous access (PIVA). In 2025, a preceding Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) project implemented A-DIVA in the Labor & Delivery (L&D) unit of an OB department and found that 35% of …

The Impact Of Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy On Cognitive Outcomes In Offspring: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Berihun Dachew, Tusa, Getinet Ayano, Kim Betts, Amanuel Gebremedhin, Daniel Rudaizky, Gizachew A. Tessema, Rosa Alati

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose To synthesis the available research on the association between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) and adverse cognitive outcomes in children. Methods PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo were searched from inception to February 2026 to identify relevant studies. Effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled using inverse variance–weighted random-effects meta-analysis. Results Thirty-nine observational studies published between 1982 and 2026, covering over 12.5 million mother-offspring pairs, were included in the final analysis. The findings indicate that HDP were associated with a 39% increased risk of Intellectual Disability (ID) (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.30–1.47) …

The Effect Of The Continuous Care Model On Self-Practices And Quality Of Life Among Preeclamptic Women, Amira Ahmed Altweel, Salma Abd-Elatty Moawed, Amr Mahmoud Riad, Shaimaa Hassan Mohamady

Nursing

No abstract provided.

Skin Is In: Promoting Breastfeeding Through Immediate Cesarean Skin-To-Skin, Autumn Spencer

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists identify immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact as a standard of care that improves neonatal stability, breastfeeding outcomes, and maternal satisfaction. Despite these recommendations, timely initiation following cesarean birth remains inconsistent. At the project site, skin-to-skin initiation averaged 72 minutes after birth, exceeding the 10-minute benchmark, and exclusive breastfeeding rates were below the national standard of 70%. Contributing barriers included workflow variability, unclear role expectations, and inconsistent communication.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was to improve infant and maternal …

Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy, Covid And Readmission Status, Margaret Luebke, Ross Bindler, Trisha Saul, Linda Trinh

Publications 2026-present

No abstract provided.

Cesarean Births Among Non-Us Born Hispanic Women: A Qualitative Study, Linda Presson, Christopher Arzadon, Cecilia Bustamante-Pixa, Wally Mijangos, Trisha Saul

Publications 2026-present

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of The Early Collaborative Intervention On Mother-Preterm Infant Interaction At One Month Of Age: Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Charlotte Sahlén Helmer, Ulrika Birberg Thornberg, Thomas Abrahamsson, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background A sensitive, well-functioning maternal interaction is vital for healthy infant development. For moderate to late preterm infants, this is even more important as this group of infants are at increased risk of facing neurodevelopmental disorders. The Early Collaborative Intervention supports parent-preterm infant interaction and includes three sessions, two in the hospital and one after discharge. Objective To investigate the impact of the Early Collaborative Intervention, compared with standard care, on mother-preterm infant interaction at one month corrected age. Design A longitudinal randomized controlled trial, reporting secondary outcomes from the first follow-up. Setting The intervention was conducted at a pediatric …

Enhancing Emergency Department Preparedness For Amniotic Fluid Embolism Through Evidence-Based Simulation Training, Olivia M. Smoak

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Maternal mortality in the United States remains a significant and worsening public health concern, with increasing reliance on emergency departments (EDs) as access points for maternal care. Emergency clinicians are therefore more likely to encounter high-acuity obstetric emergencies, including maternal cardiac arrest and amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), yet often receive limited formal training in these conditions. Simulation-based education, interdisciplinary training, and cognitive aids have been identified as effective strategies to improve performance in high-risk, low-frequency events.

The purpose of the evidence-based practice project was to evaluate whether an interdisciplinary simulation with obstetric-led debrief and introduction of the AFE checklist improves …

Clinician Perspectives On Fistula Mental Health, Victoria K. Leonard

Doctoral Dissertations

Background – Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury caused by prolonged labor that leads to stillbirth and incontinence, spurring social exclusion and isolation. These layers of trauma put women with fistula at great risk for psychological suffering, which has profound negative socioeconomic impacts on them, their families, and communities. This study captured treatment as usual at Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT), the country’s largest provider of fistula care.

Method – Improving holistic fistula treatment requires engaging the clinicians who care for women with fistula. This study aimed to investigate the training, beliefs, and treatment approaches of nurses and …

Managing Maternal Anemia In Pregnancy: The Role Of Iron-Rich Foods And Supplementation, Carli Dibler

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Anemia during pregnancy is a large public health concern, which often leads to independent risk factors for fetal and maternal outcomes including postpartum hemorrhaging, cesarean sections, blood transfusions during and after the labor process, hysterectomies, preterm birth, and infectious diseases. Six level I-III studies were analyzed using the John Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model. Findings showed that by using a combined approach of dietary intake and supplementation overall leads to better fetal and maternal outcomes compared to supplementation alone.

Prenatal Care, Pregnancy Risk, Birth Outcomes And The Role Of Neighborhood Characteristics, Monica Garcia-Perez Phd, Randy Huard Phd, Christopher Thoms Phd, David Tilstra Md

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

This study links 2024 CentraCare Health birth records with neighborhood census tract conditions from the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA, 2020/2021) to examine how place, prenatal care, and clinical risks influence birth outcomes in Central Minnesota. Neighborhood factors are standardized and paired with measures of prenatal-care adequacy and pregnancy-risk indicators in a series of multivariate linear models to explore their effect on birth outcomes. Analyses adjust for maternal demographics and clinical risks to identify independent neighborhood effects. A privacy-preserving, tract-linked dataset is also created to help local partners target high-need prevention areas.

Utilizing Remote Patient Monitoring With Dnp Students To Provide Pre-Natal Care, Sara Mccumber

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

This educational project introduced Nurse Practitioners to the use of RPM during pre-natal care for a patient with pre-natal hypertension. Hypertension is a risk factor in 16% of pregnancies and 5-8% of US births are impacted by hypertensive disorders and preeclampsia (CDC, 2023).

Identification and effective management of hypertension in pregnancy recently was an initiative of the Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MPQC, 2022).

Advancing Exclusive Breastfeeding Through Prenatal Education, Emr Optimization, And Community Partnership: A Champs National Quality Improvement Initiative, Heather Klein, Hannah Koepp

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

CHAMPS National is a CDC-funded quality improvement initiative focused on improving exclusive breastfeeding rates, strengthening maternity care practices, and reducing racial disparities. This project implemented culturally responsive prenatal education, optimized EMR workflows, and strengthened community partnerships to support informed infant feeding decisions and improve breastfeeding equity.

A Warm Welcome: Developing Strategies And Tactics To Address The Resolution Of Neonatal Hypothermia, Sarah J. Musovski

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose/Aim:

This project aimed to promote the use of a standardized checklist for newborn care that incorporated evidence-based practices. The goal was to maintain newborn temperatures in the normothermic range of 36.5–37.5 °C while receiving care in the hospital setting.

Purpose/Aim:

This project aimed to promote the use of a standardized checklist for newborn care that incorporated evidence-based practices. The goal was to maintain newborn temperatures in the normothermic range of 36.5–37.5 °C while receiving care in the hospital setting.

Description of the Undertaking/Best Practice:

The checklist that was provided included a series of evidence-based actions to promote and advance …

Be Prepared For Your Nurse Practitioner Clinical Readiness Exam, Elizabeth Heavey, Renee Biedlingmaier, Colleen Burgoyne, Carnel C. Jackson

Milne Open Textbooks

This text contains case studies and review questions for nurse practitioner students; focusing on the 3Ps of nurse practitioner education (Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Physical (Health) Assessment) to help NP students prepare for their clinical courses and pass their clinical readiness exam.  It includes cases commonly seen in entry-level NP practice.  In addition to the three individual sections of the text that focus on cases applying content from each of the distinct courses (Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Physical Assessment), we included summative case studies at the end of the book that connect all three areas in a single case. Because these three …

Breastfeeding Promotion For Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Nas), Olivia Czerwonka

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is the exposure in utero to drugs with the incidence in the United States increasing from 4 to 6.3 per 1000 births (Wei et al., 2023). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a breastfeeding support intervention to increase breastfeeding frequency and reduce hospital length of stay of newborns with NAS. A tailored multicomponent guideline based upon the current Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as established by WHO and UNICEF (2017) was implemented. Mothers of infants diagnosed with NAS were recruited using convenience sampling from a Northwest Indiana Hospital. Key stakeholders within the …

Improving Postoperative Handoff For Placenta Accreta: Implementing A Structured Handoff Communication Tool, Isabelle L. Gerrard

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose Implement a standardized postoperative handoff tool to improve interdisciplinary communication during transfer of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) patients from the operating room to an obstetric intensive care unit at an academic women's hospital.

Background Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a high-risk obstetric condition requiring coordinated multidisciplinary care. At the project site, operating room (OR)-to-obstetric intensive care unit (OB ICU) handoffs lacked a standardized process. This resulted in inconsistent communication and omission of critical information. Nurses reported reduced confidence. Standardized handoff tools can improve communication and promote safer transitions of care.

Methodology This 10-week quality improvement project used Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology …