Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Committee Chair
Melissa Foster
Subject(s)
Pregnancy--Complications--Nursing, Puerperium--Nursing, Puerperal disorders--Nursing, Hypertension in pregnancy
Abstract
In the postpartum period, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum hypertension are the chief causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends patients diagnosed with hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and postpartum hypertension have a follow-up visit within 72 hours after discharge, and all postpartum patients have a follow-up visit within 3 weeks after discharge. Acknowledging that recommendation, the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine also endorses those patients with hypertensive disorders either before, during, or after pregnancy to be seen earlier than the scheduled six-week postpartum visit. This project focused on a change in the standard of care for postpartum visits. Patients were seen within 72 hours to two weeks after birth to decrease the maternal mortality rate due to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or postpartum hypertension. Data from a Federally Qualified Health Centers’ obstetrical clinic noted that over eight months, 27% of postpartum patients were affected by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or postpartum hypertension. The DNP project aimed to provide an early screening postpartum visit to assess and diagnose life-threatening hypertensive complications, enable early intervention and assist with direct readmission to Labor & Delivery for anti-seizure prophylactic treatment. The project aimed to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality due to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum hypertension. A practice change was developed and implemented to increase the visit schedule of the postpartum patient from one visit to two visits. The change started with a sustainability survey performed by clinicians to measure the initiative for a practice change at the clinic. The staff was then educated on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, postpartum hypertension complications, and maternal morbidity and mortality to secure buy-in. Data collection from 115 patients revealed that increasing postpartum visits decreased the number of patients who were readmitted for complications and provided medical interventions for patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum hypertension.
Recommended Citation
Tavaska, Sonia M., "Establishing early postpartum visits to identify hypertensive complications in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum hypertension" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). 140.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-dnp/140