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The pandemic lingers on, and there are few professions where its impact is felt more acutely than among nurses. Overburdened and understaffed, they continue to deal with rising demands and patient volumes while soaring healthcare costs intensify the hospital workforce crisis.
Despite these challenges and others, nurses continue to play a critical role in promoting value-based care across the healthcare industry. One of their many unsung duties is serving as advocates and educators, encouraging patients to learn about treatments and engage more effectively with their providers.
This week, MEDHOST is proud to highlight the following article by Paula Wellde, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM from our partner OBIX, in which she sheds light on the ongoing morbidity associated with preeclampsia, and what patients and providers can do to mitigate the risks.
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For thirty-one years I’ve had the privilege of being a nurse, with much of that time spent at the bedside in labor and delivery. That experience has presented opportunities to provide education and training on pregnancy-related health issues within hospitals and, more recently, to the perinatal industry.
Preeclampsia occurs only during pregnancy, usually after the 20th week, and in the postpartum period (up to 4-6 weeks after delivery). It is a disorder that affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders are the leading cause of maternal mortality and infant prematurity. It is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and can create a predisposition to:
In recent years, preeclampsia has received more mainstream attention following the experiences shared by well-known celebrities like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and Mariah Carey. Still, even with that exposure, the numbers have not improved, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
There is currently no evidence that maternal-fetal outcomes are improved by early screening and there is no single test that reliably predicts preeclampsia. That’s why it’s vital to continue drawing attention to preeclampsia, so that practitioners and pregnant women are armed with facts to identify the warning signs. Then, if the condition develops, they can be proactive and seek out potentially life-saving medical attention. Again, early detection and treatment are key.
Seasoned labor and delivery nurses are typically well versed with preeclampsia, but even experienced clinicians can have difficulty recognizing a condition that is worsening. Newer nurses, peers on other units, and patients, may overlook, dismiss, and/or misunderstand the signs and symptoms which could lead to potentially detrimental outcomes. In the case of postpartum hypertension and preeclampsia, if the patient’s medical record is not available, treating personnel may have no knowledge the patient has recently delivered, resulting in a decreased index of suspicion.
The most common classifications of hypertension in pregnancy are:
During my tenure as a clinical educator, I taught classes covering preeclampsia to the clinical staff who treated pregnant patients in the emergency department and the intensive care unit. One of the things I would tell them is that if someone comes in with a severe headache or elevated blood pressure and they’re pregnant or recently delivered, to assume it’s preeclampsia until proven otherwise and perform frequent blood pressure checks. Then, if still elevated, contact the patient’s obstetrician, and treat diligently to prevent seizure/stroke. Obviously, this is oversimplified, and your facility is likely to have more detailed standards. The key takeaway here is that training is vital between units that intersect labor and delivery.
Luckily, we live in a time where access to free education and training resources are readily available. The information and materials can be used within your facility and shared to your community, especially to those who may have limited access to maternal care. The links below have information related to preeclampsia to help get you started:
As we strive to improve maternal outcomes as a nation, and where minutes and seconds count, it is important that we are proactively doing everything we can to make a difference.
Thank you for reading and see you at the nurse’s station!
Paula Wellde, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM has been a nurse for 31 years and has performed in a variety of roles in the perinatal setting including staff nurse, director, perinatal systems manager, clinical nurse educator, and perinatal safety nurse. She has also served as adjunct faculty at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2020). Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 135(6), e237-e260
Druzin M, Shields L, Peterson N, Sakowski C, Cape V, Morton C. Improving Health Care Response to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy, a California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative Quality Improvement Toolkit, 2021.
Since 1996, Clinical Computer Systems, Inc. (CCSI) has carved out a niche by developing a leading perinatal software solution and providing exceptional service. Our founder started his career as a customer service technician for a medical software company. After gaining fundamental knowledge of that system, and establishing a dedicated customer base, CCSI was born.
Over the next several years, with a team of expert coders and experience OB clinicians, the software platform was rebuilt and renamed to OBIX Perinatal Data System. We continually incorporate new technologies and industry standards with a high level of patient care and safety in mind.
We understand that no two customers are alike – that each relationship needs to be fostered through collaboration. Throughout the entire project and beyond, we will work with you to deliver a solution that aligns with your goals and initiatives.
