NURS 6551: Week 9: Obstetrics, Part 3 Essay Assignment Paper

—Pamela Hyde, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Although most women are aware of the risks associated with alcohol and drug use during pregnancy, too many pregnant women still engage in unsafe behaviors (Preidt, 2012). As an advanced practice nurse caring for expectant mothers, you have to recognize signs and symptoms of risky patient behaviors that can pose health complications for both the mother and the baby. You must work with these patients to develop treatment and management strategies that will meet their individual needs and reduce risky behavior to improve pregnancy outcomes.

This week as you continue exploring obstetrics and health promotion during pregnancy, you analyze signs and symptoms of risky patient behavior and nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes during pregnancy. You also examine treatment and management strategies for these patients.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, students will:

• Analyze signs and symptoms of patient nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes during pregnancy
• Evaluate the impact of nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes on fetuses and patients
• Analyze treatment and management strategies for patients presenting with signs and symptoms of nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes
• Understand and apply key terms, principles, and concepts related to obstetrics
• Evaluate postpartum depression in patients
• Evaluate diagnoses for patients*
• Evaluate treatment and management plans*

*These Learning Objectives support an Assignment that is due this week, but was assigned in Week 2

NURS 6551: Week 9: Obstetrics, Part 3 Essay Assignment Paper

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Tharpe, N. L., Farley, C., & Jordan, R. G. (2017). Clinical practice guidelines for midwifery & women’s health (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

 

• • Review: Chapter 3, “Care of the Pregnant Woman with Prenatal Variations” (pp. 93-154)

This chapter examines the care of women who suffer from complications during pregnancy and focuses on interventions that maximize health outcomes for the mother and baby.

 

• • Chapter 4, “Care of the Woman During Labor and Birth” (pp. 161-245)

This chapter explores the care of women during labor and birth. It also describes the progression of pregnancy and potential concerns that may arise at each stage.

 

• • Chapter 5, “Care of the Infant and Mother After Birth” (pp. 253-297)

This chapter explores the care of the infant and mother after birth and focuses on connecting the mother and baby physiologically and emotionally. It also covers the assessment of the newborn infant, breastfeeding, and the postpartum assessment of the mother in the weeks after birth.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2010). Smoking cessation during pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Smoking-Cessation-During-Pregnancy

This article explores the epidemiology of smoking by pregnant and nonpregnant women of reproductive age. It then examines strategies for helping patients quit smoking when pregnant, including effective behavioral and drug therapies.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2012). Opioid abuse, dependence, and addiction in pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Opioid-Use-and-Opioid-Use-Disorder-in-Pregnancy

This article describes factors associated with opioid addiction and its effects on pregnancy outcome. It then examines screening strategies for opioid use, abuse, and addiction in pregnant women.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). During pregnancy. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/during.html

This website emphasizes the need for health promotion during pregnancy. Implications of smoking, alcohol, infections, and environmental exposures are explored.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009a). Reducing alcohol-exposed pregnancies: A report of the National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/documents/redalcohpreg.pdf

This article examines alcohol screening strategies for women during pregnancy. It also proposes prevention recommendations and interventions for helping pregnant women abstain from alcohol.

Optional Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012b). Women’s health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/women/

National Institutes of Health. (2012). Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH). Retrieved from http://orwh.od.nih.gov/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012a). Womenshealth.gov. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/

 

Discussion: Nonadherence to Lifestyle Changes During Pregnancy

After identifying potential health risks for pregnant patients, providers often recommend behavior changes in lifestyle choices such as drug use, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, and environmental exposures. Even with provider recommendations and patient education programs, some patients still struggle to adhere to recommended lifestyle changes during pregnancy, posing health risks for both the mother and child. In your role as the provider, you must be able to recognize signs of nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes because not all patients will be forthcoming with the struggles they may be experiencing. Management plans are only successful if patients’ individual needs are recognized and met, so provider-patient collaboration is essential for mitigating nonadherence issues. For this Discussion, consider implications of nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes and potential management strategies for pregnant patients.

To prepare:

• Review the “During Pregnancy” article in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Think about the health promotion topic that you selected for the Week 8 Discussion (i.e., smoking, drinking, taking drugs, eating habits, and caring for pets).
• With the topic you selected in mind, consider early signs and symptoms that might indicate a patient’s nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes during pregnancy. Think about the impact of nonadherence on the fetus and the patient.
• Reflect on treatment and management strategies for patients presenting with signs and symptoms of nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of signs and symptoms that might indicate a pregnant patient’s nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes related to the topic you selected. Explain the impact of nonadherence to these lifestyle recommendations on the fetus and the patient. Then, explain treatment and management strategies for patients presenting with signs and symptoms resulting from their nonadherence.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days in both of the ways listed below. Respond to colleagues who selected different topics than you did.

• Explain additional signs and symptoms that might indicate a patient’s nonadherence to recommended lifestyle changes as it relates to the topics your colleagues selected.
• Provide alternative treatment and management strategies for patients presenting with signs and symptoms of nonadherence to the recommended lifestyle changes as it relates to the topics your colleagues selected.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!