Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
2-24-2026
First Advisor
Lisa Drake
Second Advisor
Kristie Givens
Abstract
Gaps in confidence among emergency department (ED) and maternal child health services (MCHS) staff negatively impacts effectiveness and timeliness of response to high acuity obstetric emergencies, such as severe obstetric hypertension. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact on provider self-efficacy with the implementation of evidence-based education and standardized procedures for severe obstetric hypertension management, aimed at evaluating the degree of success of increasing provider confidence. The project was guided by Lewin’s change theory and Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome theoretical framework. With a quasi-experimental design and the PDSA implementation framework, 20 staff from both the ED and MCHS units were provided with structured, evidence-based education on maternal hypertension management and their confidence measured using a validated self-report instrument, pre- and post-intervention, to ascertain successful improvement. With normality determined from the Shapiro-Wilk test, a two-tailed paired-sample t-test was conducted. Results demonstrated a statistically significant p < .001, with an increase in mean confidence scores from 19.35 to 21.90 and clinically significant improvement from moderate to high confidence levels. Limitations to the project included a small sample size, reflective of the general site population, and site leadership resistance. Findings support existing literature that demonstrate effectiveness of interventions for improving nurse confidence and competence. Findings promote improved practice at the project site and the value of structured, evidence-based interventions to advance nursing practice in maternal healthcare. The project provides a significant contribution to the progress of nursing care for this vulnerable population and the value of sustainable quality improvement initiatives.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Abramowitz, Victoria, "Quality Improvement Project: Provider Knowledge Improvement for Care of the Severely Hypertensive Obstetric Patient" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 283.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/283
