Setting Body Mass Index Criteria for Obese Obstetric Patients to Reduce Nurse Injury and Improve Patient Safety

Paper PresentationPurpose for the ProgramA high body mass index (BMI) in women during pregnancy poses safety threats for the nurses who care for them related to moving, transferring, repositioning, and airway management. There are also increased risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes for morbidly obese women. In June 2013, an obstetric nurse injured her shoulder while assisting a morbidly obese woman. This incident sparked a response to investigate possible practice changes to ensure the safety of nurses who care for this patient population.Proposed ChangeTo implement body mass index criteria in obstetric patients to reduce nurse injury and improve patient safety.Implementation, Outcomes, and EvaluationThe Perinatal Quality and Patient Safety Collaborative is an interprofessional committee consisting of leaders from nursing, medicine, and anesthesiology. The committee reviewed opinions that were issued in January 2013 regarding obesity in pregnancy. The team set BMI limits for patients to ensure the safety of the patient and nursing staff during the birth process. The Roper St. Francis Healthcare Obesity in Pregnancy Guidelines state that assessment and counseling should be initiated early and when indicated, a multidisciplinary approach, including anaesthesia consultant, should be utilized. Anesthesia consults should be obtained for women with BMIs of 45–54.9. Women with BMIs of 55 or greater should give birth at a tertiary care center. Additional lift equipment w...
Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Childbearing Source Type: research