DNP Projects

Date of Award

7-31-2025

Document Type

Graduate Paper

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Mary Pesch

Subject Categories

Nursing

Abstract

Objective
Women often seek emergency care during an early pregnancy loss. Unfortunately, research shows that women are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with their miscarriage care due to lack of support and guidance, provider knowledge, communication and follow-up care. Mishandled miscarriage situations can cause women to suffer physical and psychological consequences. The purpose of this project was to discover if providing emergency room nursing staff with pregnancy loss bereavement education allows for enhanced support, knowledge, and confidence when caring for women experiencing pregnancy loss. The aim of the project is to measure if perceptions of ER registered nurses support, resources, knowledge, and confidence would significantly change after an evidence-based miscarriage bereavement educational session and miscarriage management toolkit is provided.

Methods
This project explored emergency room registered nurses’ level of support, knowledge surrounding miscarriage care, resources, and level of confidence in caring for women experiencing an early pregnancy loss. A pre and post survey was utilized to measure if perceptions of ER registered nurses support, resources, knowledge, and confidence would significantly change after an evidence-based miscarriage bereavement educational session and miscarriage management toolkit was provided.

Results
Only 21% of participants felt they received sufficient information and training on pregnancy loss. Following the miscarriage care educational session, 100% of participants reported that they gained confidence and 94.4% had improved miscarriage care knowledge. Additionally, 97.2% gained confidence in compassionate miscarriage care. Following the educational session 100% of participants reported gained knowledge of patient resources available for enhanced physical and emotional support.

Conclusion
This project validates the importance of providing miscarriage care educational sessions to nurses caring for patients experiencing an early pregnancy loss.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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