Date of Conferral

8-12-2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Jamie Harrington

Abstract

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and chronic hypertension, are among the leading causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality globally, affecting approximately 10% of pregnancies. Despite established clinical guidelines, a significant gap remains in provider knowledge and the consistent application of evidence-based practices, particularly during the postpartum period and among marginalized populations. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed this gap by implementing a staff education program using the evidence-based California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC, 2021) toolkit. The intervention consisted of a pretest to assess baseline knowledge, an interactive PowerPoint presentation based on the CMQCC toolkit, and a posttest to measure knowledge retention. Results showed an increase in average test scores from 77.5% to 91.7%, representing a 14.2 score improvement. Findings suggest the intervention was effective in enhancing clinical understanding and management of HDP among participating providers. The project could support earlier clinical interventions, more accurate diagnoses, and greater consistency in care. HDP remains a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings and among women of color, who continue to face systemic disparities in diagnosis and treatment (Chambers et al., 2022; World Health Organization, 2024). This educational model is scalable and adaptable, providing a practical framework for enhancing provider preparedness and promoting equitable, evidence-based maternal care across diverse health care settings.

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