Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Eric S. Anderson

Abstract

Cesarean birth rates are associated with increased maternal morbidity. This project evaluated a quality improvement (QI) initiative implemented to reduce cesarean births among Nulliparous Term Singleton Vertex (NTSV) obstetric populations, the largest contributor to cesarean births. Variations in labor management practice contribute to cesarean birth rate; implementation of labor management bundles have been endorsed to influence practice- and system-level changes in the promotion of vaginal births. The problem addressed in this project was an organizational NTSV cesarean section rate of 30%. The purpose of the project was to use secondary data to evaluate a previously implemented labor management bundle at a large hospital in the northwestern United States. The model of improvement was used as a framework for the QI initiative and this evaluation project. The practice-focused question asked in this project was: Did NTSV cesarean birth rates change after implementation of an evidenced-based standardized labor management bundle? Archived data were collected on cesarean birth rates for 3 time periods: prebaseline, 1 year postimplementation, and 2 years postimplementation. Chi-squareï? tests compared the differences between observed and expected results of data following implementation of labor management bundles. Results show no statistically significant difference between the pre- and post- implementation periods in the NTSV laboring population. Results suggest use of labor management practice bundles alone may not lead to expected outcomes improvements and that operationalization of such practices are sensitive to institutional and/or patient population contexts. This project may serve to promote positive social change by framing evidence-based practice as a process that must attend to contextual considerations.

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