Presenter: Cynthia Nypaver
Co-Presenter: Beth Ann Clayton

Title:  An Online Interprofessional Education Simulation to Decrease Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

Description: In light of the current pandemic and social distancing practices, cutting-edge strategies that aim to improve curriculum in a distance learning format are needed more than ever before in advanced practice nursing (APN) education. The purpose of this project was to create and implement an online, interprofessional education (IPE) experience for nurse-midwifery (NM) and nurse anesthesia (NA) students. Students and faculty from these differing professions were brought together in a real-time, online environment to experientially learn, teach, and practice management of a postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. In real situations, successful management of a PPH is dependent not only on high cognitive skill, but also, cross collaboration among a team of healthcare professionals. IPE improves communication and leadership skills. This IPE prepared NM and NA students to be work-ready for collaborative practice in their clinician careers.

Abstract: "In light of the current pandemic and social distance practices, cutting-edge strategies that aim to improve curriculum in a distance learning format are needed more than ever before in advanced practice nursing education. The purpose of this project was to create and implement an online interprofessional (IPE) learning experience for nurse-midwifery (NM) and nurse anesthesia (NA) students at the UC College of Nursing (CON), leveraging our expertise in distance learning education to support critical advanced nursing skills in the remote learning environment. One NA faculty, three NM faculty, participated and mentored students throughout this IPE experience. IPE improves communication and leadership skills. This project is innovative in that it brought students and faculty from differing health professions together in a real-time, online environment to experientially learn and practice management of a PPH, a leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. In real situations, successful management of a PPH is dependent not only on high cognitive skill, but also, cross collaboration among a team of healthcare professionals. In most cases, PPH is preventable if recognized and managed early by a well-orchestrated healthcare team. The online, simulated IPE provides students with the opportunity to participate in an experiential learning environment with peers, educators, and practitioners that is non-threatening and without risks to actual patients, while preparing them to be work-ready for collaborative practice in their clinician careers.   Outcomes:   1.             To develop/implement of an online IPE simulation about management of PPH for nurse-midwifery (NM) and nurse-anesthesia (NA) students at the University of Cincinnati, College of Nursing (CON).   2.      To improve knowledge about the management of postpartum hemorrhage in NM and 36 students.  3. To improve communication/collaborative skills in NM and NA students during an online simulated postpartum hemorrhage. "