Almost 95% of all maternal mortalities happen in low and lower middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2023). However, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among all developed countries. Approximately 700 patients die each year in the U.S. due to pregnancy complications and nearly 85% of those deaths are preventable (Hill et al., 2022). Furthermore, the AMA and CDC state that Black and AIAN patients are 3 to 5 times more likely to die from maternal complications than White patients (AMA, 2023). Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and low-income populations are also at significantly greater risk of poorer maternal outcomes. However, in the past few years, global and national advocacy initiatives have set their philanthropic and financial radar on improving maternal outcomes in these vulnerable communities.

This course discusses best practices in operative vaginal delivery techniques—forceps-assisted delivery and vacuum-assisted delivery (OAVD), as well as episiotomy.

The course is case-based, so you will have an opportunity to apply the principles covered to particular patient scenarios. The cases are branched, with different outcomes based on different choices.

Use of OAVD techniques vary from organization to organization. You may, for example, work in a hospital in which forceps techniques are no longer taught to residents. Each section has been organized so that you can move through it quickly or delve into it more deeply, depending on its relevance to your clinical practice.
 

Neonatal emergencies are frightening and challenging to almost all acute care providers. This course will focus on the neonate and provide a succinct review of resuscitation issues pertinent to clinical practice and board preparation/review.

This course provides labor and delivery nurses with practical guidance on preparing for, supporting, and managing vacuum-assisted and forceps-assisted births. It covers indications, contraindications, teamwork, documentation, postpartum care, and recognition of maternal and neonatal complications.

Pain is often underestimated and undertreated in the pediatric population due to many factors. As a result, children’s health outcomes are directly impacted without proper recognition and pain management, and quality of life is reduced. Physicians and nursing professionals must learn to assess and treat pediatric pain appropriately while caring for hospitalized children. This course describes the past and future status of pain management in children, pharmacological and non-pharmacological management options, and the complexities of managing pain in special populations.

Concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury that is common in children and adolescents. Despite increased awareness about the injury, concussion remains under-reported and under-diagnosed. Nurses and Radiology Technicians must be aware of the identification, diagnosis, and management of concussions in pediatric patients. 

Pediatric ambulatory care consists of well-child checks, preventive care, and the treatment and management of acute and chronic health conditions. Nurses provide holistic care to the pediatric patient by synthesizing their nursing assessments with parent/caregiver concerns. Nurses collaborate with the healthcare team to identify and address common pediatric health problems encountered in the ambulatory care setting.

Perioperative professionals must have a fundamental understanding of the anatomical, physiological, psychological, and emotional differences of children compared to adults and how these differences impact the care needs of pediatric patients in the perioperative period.

Worldwide, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) accounts for high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. Early recognition is key to good outcomes. Recognizing PPH, its stages, and how to measure blood loss is essential since treatment is based on the stages of hemorrhage. Additionally, it is important to understand nursing interventions, treatments for PPH, and teamwork and communication needs to improve perinatal outcomes.

This course aims to enhance the knowledge of acute care nurses about postpartum hemorrhage, including its causes, risk factors, and medical and surgical management.

This course is intended to utilize scenario-based learning to review and reinforce training for caregivers in all obstetric practice areas on identifying and managing atypical presentations of preeclampsia.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and transition age youth (TAY). This course provides an overview of risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs of suicide specific to this population. It also describes suicide assessment strategies and interventions that reduce the risk of suicide in adolescents and TAY.

Nearly half of all cases of shoulder dystocia occur in the absence of risk factors, making them largely unpredictable and unpreventable. Perinatal morbidity and mortality rates associated with shoulder dystocia are high, even when properly managed.

Although shoulder dystocia is considered an obstetric emergency, a well-trained obstetric provider and a team of nursing/resuscitation professionals can usually manage it well for the pregnant person and fetus. 

A review of clinical judgment related to the use of primary maneuvers for managing shoulder dystocia.

Americans are using opioids at an alarming rate, whether through prescriptions or illegal means. Parallel to this problem is the use of opioids during pregnancy.

The goal for this course is to present RNs, PAs, physicians, and entry-level drug and alcohol counselors in inpatient or outpatient settings with best practices for identifying and managing pregnant women who are using opioids.