Opportunities for Improving Communication Between Maryland Nurses and Black Health Patients

Date of Conferral

10-27-2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Sally Willis

Abstract

This qualitative, hermeneutic, phenomenological study was conducted to better understand how maternal health nurses in Maryland and Black women patients communicate. The study’s secondary objectives were to understand the communication procedures and leadership responsibilities within the state’s health services organizations (HSOs) and the nurses’ experiences with these topics. The patient-centered care conceptual framework was applied in this study to explore the high maternal mortality and morbidity health crisis affecting U.S. Black maternal health patients to discern the processes involved and determine whether potential communication as well as a lack of leadership roles and support could be contributing factors. The participants were 11 nurses from public hospitals and clinics throughout Maryland that have provided maternal health care in the state for at least 3 years. Interpretive coding was used to manually classify and organize the data for analysis. Iterative data analysis revealed five overall themes: (a) maternal health nurses experienced burnout, (b) maternal health nurses were challenged with cultural and health literacy barriers, (c) maternal health nurses fostered patient-centeredness, (d) maternal health nurses were key patient safety advocates, and (e) the need for more consistent HSO interdepartmental partnerships in delayed communication, interventions, and baseline care plan conformity. The findings of this study may lead to positive social change by providing a basis for understanding and addressing specific factors, such as access and delivery coordination, that may contribute to poor maternal health care outcomes and communication experiences between nurses, patients, and HSOs, improving Black maternal health outcomes.

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