RNRS 194: Obstetrics/Maternity Nursing

• Define the scope and roles of nursing in women’s/maternal health care in the United States in order to formulate appropriate nursing care plans for clients in this category and advocate for improved health care as a professional nurse, demonstrated through written assignments and exams.
• Identify and implement strategies for effectively communicating with maternity clients of different age and developmental levels and their families in order to deliver individualized and sensitive care of maternity clients at all ages and their families, shown through supervised clinical contact with assigned maternity clients and their families, as well as on written examinations. consistently utilize verbal and written communications in English with the purpose of assisting clients to promote, maintain, or restore well-being, demonstrated through supervised interaction with clients and clinical facility staff and appropriate documentation for the agency.
• Utilize biopsychosocial concepts and theories, and principles of critical thinking in order to apply the nursing process to the care of and their families, demonstrated in the clinical settings by assigned nursing care plans, observation and verbal report to the clinical instructor. demonstrate a broad base of knowledge and critical thinking in the application of the nursing process by both generating and modifying nursing care and care plans for maternity/gynecological/newborn clients and their families experiencing complex care situations in various health care settings in order to provide individualized nursing care. employ knowledge of common obstetrical/gynecological/neonatal health care problems using the nursing process to provide quality nursing care, demonstrated through observations in clinical settings, written exams and nursing care plans.
• Demonstrate proper use of computing skills through appropriate computer documentation at the clinical sites; using internet research for preparing, revising and adding to nursing care plans as class assignments; and the ability to retrieve information using technological means to apply information in the care of obstetrical/gynecological/newborn clients and their families.
• Recognize and practice culturally sensitive care in health care settings while rendering nursing care to meet the needs of obstetrical/gynecological clients and their families with complex alterations in wellness or normal maternity conditions by means of using college level vocabulary, proper grammar and associated medical terminology for the purpose of providing culturally sensitive and ethical nursing care to clients encountered in clinical settings in our community. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for nursing activities in the role of the maternity nurse by utilizing the nursing process, principles of health teaching, health promotion, illness prevention and restorative or end-of-life care to promote adaptation for maternity/gynecological clients and their families. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for nursing activities in the role of the maternity nurse by utilizing the nursing process, principles of health teaching, health promotion, illness prevention and restorative or end-of-life care to promote adaptation for maternity/gynecological clients and their families.
• Illustrates correct analysis, interpretation, documentation and delivery of drug doses per physician orders to assigned maternity/gynecological and newborn clients under direct supervision of a clinical instructor in order to demonstrate proficient pharmacologic knowledge and safe nursing care.

1. Introduction to Women’s Health
   1. Discuss the current status of women’s/maternal health care in the United States .
   2. Define the scope and roles of nursing in women’s/maternal health care.
   3. Discuss current trends in women’s/maternal health nursing practice.
   4. Describe the anatomical and physiological changes that occur in the female organs of reproduction across the life span.
   5. Describe changes in nutritional requirements of women across the lifespan.
   6. Identify and discuss diagnostic tests for women throughout the life cycle.
2. Contraceptive Methods and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
   1. Explain the differences between permanent and non-permanent methods of contraception.
   2. Discuss the nursing care related to the use of permanent and non-permanent methods of contraception.
   3. Describe the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, treatment and nursing management of selected sexually transmitted diseases.
   4. Discuss the implications of Group B streptococcus and TORCH infections on the pregnant and non-pregnant woman.
3. Antepartum
   1. Describe physiological changes of the normal antepartum process using a systems needs approach / framework.
   2. Identify the progression of maternal behaviors through the gestational period.
   3. Describe the physical assessment of the antepartum patient.
   4. Explain common diagnostic antepartum procedures.
   5. Discuss the nutritional needs of the antepartum patient.
   6. Identify commonly used antepartum pharmacological agents and their nursing implications.
   7. Define and discuss potential complications of the antepartum period.
4. Intrapartum
   1. Describe the physiological changes during the normal intrapartum period using a system needs approach framework.
   2. Identify the progression of the stages of labor.
   3. Explain common diagnostic procedures used for the intrapartum client.
   4. Discuss the nurse’s role in providing comfort and identify commonly used pharmacological agents during the intrapartum period.
   5. Discuss potential complications of labor and delivery and appropriate nursing interventions.
5. Postpartum
   1. Describe the physiological changes during the immediate postpartum period.
   2. Identify the progression of maternal behaviors through the postpartum period.
   3. Describe the physical care for the postpartum client and discuss the nurse’s role in providing for the needs of the postpartum client and family.
   4. Identify signs of postpartum complications and ensure that information related to these findings are passed on to the appropriate nursing staff member.
   5. Discuss the nurse’s role in providing comfort and identify the pharmacological agents commonly used in the postpartum period.
6. Newborn
   1. Describe the physiological changes occurring in the normal newborn using a systems needs approach/framework while conducting a physical assessment, and provide teaching for the parent(s) significant other(s) regarding normal vs. abnormal changes.
   2. Explain common diagnostic measures/tests used for the newborn, their nursing implications and parental involvement.
   3. Discuss the nutritional needs of the newborn in the immediate post birth period and during the first few months of life.
   4. Describe commonly used pharmacological agents specific to the newborn.
   5. Discuss potential complications that occur in the newborn during the hospital stay immediately after birth.

Under supervision by clinical instructors, the student nurse will perform the following skills in a clinical setting (or simulated lab situation using computerized simulation manikins) on female clients who are experiencing pregnancy or alterations in female reproductive wellness, utilizing the steps of the nursing process during all phases of care:

1. Describe the anatomical and physiological changes that occur in the female organs of reproduction across the lifespan.
2. Describe changes in nutritional requirements of women across the lifespan.
3. Identify and discuss diagnostic tests for women throughout the life cycle.
4. Discuss the nursing care related to the use of permanent and non-permanent methods of contraception.
5. Describe the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, treatment and nursing management of selected sexually transmitted diseases.
6. Identify the antepartum process and nursing care.
7. Identify the intrapartum physiological changes and stages of labor.
8. Explain the nurses role of providing postpartum care.
9. Identify signs of postpartum complications and ensure that information related to these findings are passed on to the appropriate nursing staff member.
10. Describe the physiological changes occurring in the normal newborn using a systems needs approach/framework while conducting a physical assessment, and provide teaching for the parent(s) significant other(s) regarding normal vs. abnormal changes.
11. Explain common diagnostic measures/tests used for the newborn, their nursing implications and parental involvement.
12. Discuss the nutritional needs of the newborn in the immediate post birth period and during the first few months of life.
13. Describe commonly used pharmacological agents specific to the newborn.
14. Discuss potential complications that occur in the newborn during the hospital stay immediately after birth.