| dc.description.abstract | Abstract Problem: The United States has some of the worst maternal mortality and morbidity rates for a developed nation and these rates are on the rise, which has profound implications for the well-being of mothers, their children, and the communities in which they reside. With the incidence of preeclampsia of three to five percent, one recommendation for improvement in maternal morbidity and mortality is with the standardization of care by providers and bedside nurses when caring for patients. With the standardization of care and use of evidence-based protocols, maternal health can be improved. Aim: The aim of this quality improvement project was to create a protocol for obstetric care providers and nurses to use that will improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with preeclampsia in a community hospital setting. The evidence-based practice protocol is designed to enhance the care for women in pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period. Method: Following a thorough review of the literature, an evidence-based practice protocol was developed for a community hospital in Southern Johnson County, Kansas. This protocol was evaluated by both providers and bedside nurses with at least 5 years of obstetric experience using a validated and reliable tool for protocol evaluation. There was an opportunity for participants to offer comments and concerns, which was considered for inclusion in a revised protocol. Results: After the evaluation of the protocol, comments as well as evaluation ratings were considered. A revised protocol was created and presented to practice committees for use at the community hospital. Keywords: hypertension, preeclampsia, pregnancy, quality improvement, protocol | |
