Improve Maternal Mortality Rates Using POEP

This blog is the first of three taken from a recent Webinar featuring Lindsay McAlister, BSN, RN; Alexander Walker, PhD, Senior Director, Learning and Research Design, MedStar; Dr. Tamika Auguste, Associate Medical Director and Director OBGYN Simulation, MedStar Health; and Kris Karlsen, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, FAAN, Program Author and Founder, S.T.A.B.L.E.

Lindsay McAlister is a clinical obstetric specialist at HealthStream and has nursing experience in labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum. While she no longer provides direct patient care, she is still an advocate for improvement in maternal mortality rates.

Orientation and Nurse Retention

The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has partnered with HealthStream to offer POEP (Perinatal Orientation and Education Program). AWHONN’s mission is to empower and develop nurses and that really starts with quality orientation and education programs that help prepare nurses to provide the highest quality care for mothers and babies.

POEP is designed to serve as both an orientation for nurses that may be new to the perinatal unit as well as continuing education for experienced staff. McAlister stresses the importance of orientation to nurse retention – an ongoing issue for virtually every healthcare organization in the US. “There is a lot at stake when we bring a new nurse into our hospital to deliver care,” said McAlister. In addition, whether that new nurse is coming straight out of a nursing program or transferring from another discipline, McAlister points out that those nurses likely only have about one semester or six months of women’s health education, which further underscores the importance of establishing a baseline of evidence-based best practices based on the most recent data. POEP can help your organization prepare nurses and help them become confident in their skills.

Turning the Tide on Rising Maternal Mortality Rates – Educational Solutions

POEP includes 15 different modules that provide detailed education on topics that range from prenatal to postpartum care. The content addresses the normal course of labor and delivery in addition to complications that may occur during labor and delivery. Additionally, infant care and neonatal complications are covered. McAlister also shared the importance of the patient experience. Patient care is not simply the physical aspects of care, but the emotional and social aspects as well. This program addresses the full range of the physical aspects of care and there is also a section to prepare caregivers to help patients cope with perinatal loss from both a physical and emotional standpoint.

Engaging and Interactive Educational Solutions Focused on Maternal Mortality

So, if your organization uses POEP, what can you expect? The program includes:

• Online modules that focus on the essentials of perinatal education
• Narration, video and animation
• Knowledge checks
• Pre- and post-tests
• Reference lists, speaker notes and participant handouts
• User manuals for participants and administrators
• CNE contact hours

POEP is recommended for both new and experienced nurses and can also be used as a tool for advanced practice nurses preparing for exams. The content is regularly revised and updated to reflect current best practices and can also support a blended learning approach that includes both instructor-led training and online content.

Maternal care is one of the highest risk levels of care. Not having the right training can lead to poor communication, higher costs, and unnecessary harm. HealthStream offers industry leading solutions that will train your staff to deliver the highest quality of care for mother and baby before, during, and after delivery.