Date of Conferral
2019
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Eric Anderson
Abstract
Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal death, yet many deaths related to hemorrhage might be prevented with early recognition and intervention. The birthing unit of a U.S. community hospital formed an interprofessional task force to plan and implement a postpartum hemorrhage protocol that would provide the obstetric team with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed for early identification and quick action when hemorrhage occurred. Lewin's model of change provided a framework for protocol implementation. The purpose of this doctoral project was to evaluate this quality improvement project. Secondary data internal to the organization were collected and analyzed to answer the practice-focused question, Is there a relationship between implementation of a postpartum hemorrhage protocol and the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage? To determine the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, the number of hemorrhages with and without blood transfusion was divided by the number of deliveries and recorded monthly. The chi-square test was used to analyze the rates of hemorrhage pre- and post-implementation. A statistically significant decrease in hemorrhage was noted post-implementation, suggesting that there was a relationship between implementation of a protocol and the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. This project supported the Walden University mission by working towards optimal health outcomes for women. Eliminating preventable harm related to hemorrhage benefits women, families, and communities. Lessons learned from the implementation and evaluation of this quality improvement project are expected to be utilized by nursing leaders to address other challenges identified in the obstetric setting.
Recommended Citation
Davies, Lori M., "Evaluation of a Postpartum Hemorrhage Protocol" (2019). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 7792.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7792
