Expert Panel to Track Nurses' Effect on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

Three Missed Critical Nursing Care Processes on Labor and Delivery Units During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationships of three missed critical nursing care processes on labor and delivery units with reduced nursing time at the bedside and adequacy of unit staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Online distribution from January 14 to February 26, 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

A national convenience sample (N = 836) of registered nurses employed on labor and delivery units.

METHODS

We conducted descriptive analyses on respondent characteristics and critical missed care items adapted from the Perinatal Missed Care Survey. We conducted robust logistic regression analyses to assess the relationships of three missed critical nursing care processes (surveillance of fetal well-being, excessive uterine activity, and development of new maternal complications) with reduced nursing time at the bedside and adequacy of unit staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

Less nursing time at the bedside was associated with greater odds of missing any of the critical aspects of care, adjusted odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval [1.12, 2.80]. Adequate staffing greater than or equal to 75% of the time was associated with lower odds of missing any of the critical aspects of care compared to adequate staffing less than or equal to 50% of the time, adjusted odds ratio = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [0.36, 0.79].

CONCLUSION

Perinatal outcomes are dependent on the timely recognition of and response to abnormal maternal and fetal conditions during childbirth. In times of unexpected complexity in care and resource constraints, a focus on three critical aspects of perinatal nursing care is needed to maintain patient safety. Strategies that enable bedside presence of nurses, including maintaining adequate unit staffing, may help to mitigate missed care.

Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Perinatal Home Visiting in Women with High-Risk Pregnancies

INTRODUCTION

Published research indicates that some perinatal home visiting programs are highly effective. However, there is a dearth of information regarding how these services apply to women experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the potential acceptability of home visiting services within this vulnerable population and identify what services women want.

METHODS

Four focus groups (N = 32) were conducted with a population of low-income, pregnant individuals in medically underserved central Georgia (United States). Participants were evaluated based on their current exposure to home visiting, receptiveness to home visiting, and reasons for apprehension regarding home visiting.

RESULTS

The results of this study were mixed, with women expressing both interest in and reluctance about home visiting programs. Themes of distrust and fear of judgment or persecution existed. Women also varied with regard to what home visiting services they would like offered. Those discussed included assistance with maternal or infant medical needs, maternal function tasks, household tasks, and child care.

DISCUSSION

Home visiting programs can be effective for improving maternal and child health outcomes. However, not all home visiting programs effectively reach their target population. More research is needed to determine what women who have high-risk conditions during pregnancy want help with and how to increase receptiveness. The results of this study could be informative to health care providers who treat persons with high-risk conditions in identifying adjunctive services for those in need of additional support.

Maternal Mortality and Morbidity in the United States: Classification, Causes, Preventability, and Critical Care Obstetric Implications

The United States has experienced a steady rise in pregnancy-related deaths over the last 3 decades. The rate of severe maternal morbidity has also increased. It is estimated that approximately 50% of maternal deaths are preventable. National, multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts are required to effectively address this problem. The complex nature of certain conditions and the concomitant risk of significant maternal morbidity and mortality have yielded a subset of women who require obstetric critical care. Institutions and clinicians face challenges as they identify a framework within which to provide this specialized level of care. Systematic, multidisciplinary review of maternal morbidity and mortality events continues to generate meaningful data and recommendations for improvement. The purpose of this article was to describe important concepts related to maternal mortality including the classification and leading causes of maternal death in the United States. The preventability of maternal mortality is also explored including evidence-based best practices and strategies.