Nursing professor edits journal series on reducing maternal morbidity, mortality

Nursing strategies that aim to reduce rising maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States is the focus of a series of articles guest edited by School of Nursing Professor M. Cynthia Logsdon, Ph.D., W.H.N.P.-B.C., F.A.A.N., in the current issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing.

The “In Focus” series of the November/December 2016 issue features six articles that detail outcomes of an expert panel, including Logsdon, convened in 2014 by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs to define ways of measuring nursing practice that could support efforts to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Several tools were developed from the work of the expert panel, including a patient reminder tool for signs and symptoms of postpartum complications and a postpartum discharge education audit tool for providers.

Maternal mortality in the United States is on the rise. From 2006 through 2010, the maternal mortality rate was 16 deaths per 100,000 live births, an increase from the 1998 through 2005 rate of 14.5 deaths per 100,000 live births.