Date of Completion
Fall 2026
Document Type
DNP Scholarly Project
Academic Department
School of Nursing
Degree Type
Doctoral
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
First Advisor
Dr. Lydia Forsythe
Second Advisor
Dr. Lisa Williamson
Abstract
Problem: Pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy condition characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria, typically occurring after 20 weeks. Pre-eclampsia affects 2–8% of pregnancies globally. Early detection and proper care are essential. The OBGYN clinic reports a 20% rate among high-risk patients, significantly higher than the national 5–8%, attributed to limited education, poor care coordination, and inadequate postpartum support. A medication-only approach without proper education has not effectively reduced the rates.
Aim of the Project: The overarching aim of the Quality Improvement project was to improve maternal and infant outcomes by managing pre-eclampsia risk factors. The QI project reduced the clinic's pre-eclampsia rate from 20% to 0%, below local outcomes and national standards.
Review of the Evidence: The analysis of evidence underscores the importance of patient education, precise blood pressure monitoring, screening for social determinants of health, and coordinated care for high-risk pregnant women during both the prenatal and postpartum periods.
Project Design: Quality improvement (QI) offers a structured approach to addressing pre-eclampsia challenges in the OBGYN clinic. The OhioHealth change management model helped facilitate positive change among stakeholders through change-readiness strategies that improved staff training and strengthened QI implementation. To strengthen patient engagement, the team used the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology to test improvements.
Intervention: Implementing the AIM Maternal Hypertension Patient Safety Bundle transformed clinical practice at the OBGYN clinic. By replacing an unstandardized treatment approach with a structured, team-based Quality Improvement model, the clinic closed long-standing gaps in patient education, blood pressure monitoring, screening for social determinants of health (100%), and care coordination (95%).
Significant Findings/Outcomes: The QI project started with 17/67 high-risk pregnant women and ended with 15/61. The 15 included four prenatal and 11 postnatal. The goal was to reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia from 20% to 5%. After the 12-week implementation, the team identified no cases of pre-eclampsia among the 15 high-risk women, reducing the incidence to 0/ 61.
Implication for Nursing: The healthcare staff will continue to provide bilingual educational materials, distribute home blood pressure logs for self-monitoring, and conduct routine screenings for social determinants of health. Additionally, encourage adherence to care plans to sustain progress, improve health outcomes, and enhance patients' overall quality of life.
Recommended Citation
Licin-Odnez, Ada, "Improving Outcomes Through Early Management of Pre-eclampsia Risk Factors" (2026). All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects. 88.
https://fuse.franklin.edu/dnp-project/88
Rights
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