| Description |
Women who experience pregnancy loss experience levels of grief similar to those felt with the loss of any loved one (Kersting & Wagner, 2012; Lok, 2007; Robinson, 2011). There are factors associated with miscarriage that can predispose women to complicated grief, including physical pain or trauma during the miscarriage, a tendency on the part of medical caregivers or friends and family to minimize the loss, lack of support, and lack of mourning rituals (Kersting & Wagner, 2012; Lee & Slade, 1996; Lok, 2007; Robinson, 2011). Physical trauma and lack of mourning rituals have been particularly associated with increased risk for complicated grief or PTSD, while having a chance to say goodbye, having strong social support, and acknowledgement of the loss by medical caregivers are associated with more typical grieving patterns (Bowles et al., 2000; Kersting & Wagner, 2012; Robinson, 2011). The purpose of this project was to provide education for the Emergency Department (ED) staff and providers at the University of Utah hospital on the subjects of grief, bereavement, and emotional support following early pregnancy loss, as well as tools and resources available to patients and caregivers at the hospital. Project objectives included: 1. Designing an educational module on bereavement support after early pregnancy loss; the intended audience for this module was the nurses, physicians, and advanced practice clinicians at the University of Utah Hospital ED 2. Obtaining IRB approval for use of the educational module, specifically for the use of a pre and post module questionnaire to evaluate learner knowledge 3. Submitting a proposal to present this scholarly project at the annual Perinatal Bereavement Conference at the University of Utah in May 2013 At this time, I have been successful in the following implementation and evaluation measures: 1. Completed the educational module and incorporated the content into the CANVAS learning system 2. Obtained IRB approval for use of the material as well as the pre and post module questionnaire 3. Obtained feedback from my content experts, Katherine Supiano, PhD and Stephanie Richardson, PhD regarding the module content, including the educational merit as well as appropriate use of grief and bereavement constructs 4. Met with the clinical nurse coordinator of the ED and obtained permission to post fliers regarding the educational module and my project in the ED breakroom 5. Corresponded with the medical director of the ED physicians and advanced practice clinicians, and obtained permission to discuss the educational module and my project at their staff meeting on April 10, 2013 6. Corresponded with the coordinator of the Perinatal Bereavement Conference and obtained permission to speak about my scholarly project at the conference this May. It is my hope that the educational material I have developed will increase awareness about grief after early pregnancy and help nurses, physicians, and advanced practice clinicians become more comfortable caring for patients experiencing an early pregnancy loss. It is my intent to make this material available for the duration of my IRB approval, and after discussions with the ED clinical nurse coordinator, it is possible that this material will be incorporated into future mandatory ED education. |
