Course Summary
Preparing women early on in a pregnancy to follow a plan for routine prenatal care has been shown to promote healthy outcomes for expectant mothers and the developing baby during all phases of pregnancy. Proper nutrition and prevention should be reviewed at the first prenatal visit and for every visit throughout the pregnancy. To ensure that best care practices are followed and that promotion of maternal and infant health is of top priority, all health professionals should understand patient safety goals and standards of practice. The health team should understand the importance of working in unison not only with other clinicians and associates, but also with patients and their families.
Course Format
Homestudy
Course Syllabus
- I. Introduction
- II. Planning the Prenatal Visit
- III. Assessing the Estimated Delivery Date
- 1. Gestational Age and Delivery Date
- IV. Diagnosis of a Pregnancy
- V. History and Physical: First Prenatal Visit
- 1. Body Mass Index
- 2. History
- 3. Laboratory Studies
- 4. Genetic Testing
- 5. Herbal Supplements
- 6. Medication Safety and Pregnancy
- 7. Pregnancy Category A Medications
- 8. Pregnancy Category B Medications
- 9. Pregnancy Category C Medications
- 10. Pregnancy Category D Medications
- 11. Pregnancy Category X Medications
- 12. New Model for Medication Classification
- 13. Past Obstetrical and Gynecological History
- 14. Psychosocial Issues
- 15. Psychiatric Issues
- VI. Physical Examination and Ultrasound Examination
- VII. Therapeutic Communication
- 1. Acknowledging the Patient’s Feelings
- 2. Using Silence
- VIII. Identifying Health Risks During Pregnancy
- 1. Hypertension
- 2. Diabetes Mellitus
- 3. Heart Disease
- IX. Genetic Screening During Pregnancy
- X. Adapting to Pregnancy: Physical, Emotional and Social Considerations
- 1. Emotional and Social Changes in Early Pregnancy
- 2. Family Member Adaptation to a New Pregnancy
- XI. Diet and Exercise During Pregnancy
- 1. Calories
- 2. Mineral Requirements
- 3. Vitamins
- 4. Food Safety
- 5. Exercise
- XII. Follow-up Prenatal Visits
- 1. 15 to 24 weeks of gestation
- 2. 24 to 28 weeks of gestation84,85
- 3. 28 to 36 weeks of gestation86.87
- 4. Multiple Births
- 5. Fetal Presentation Before and During Labor
- 6. Seven Cardinal Movements of Labor
- 7. Delivery Complications
- XIII. Pain Medications During Labor
- XIV. Comfort Techniques for the Mother During Labor
- XV. Summary
Authors
Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI
Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.
Jennifer McAnally, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Jennifer McAnally holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and specializes in the field of family psychiatry. She has worked in child and adult mental health and substance use treatment settings for over 10 years. She worked previously in academic research settings and as the medical device division manager of a biomedical firm and tissue bank. She has also worked in regulatory oversight of Medicaid programs at the state level. Jennifer’s earlier degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Microbiology with emphasis on whole-genome bioinformatics, both from Montana State University. Jennifer is a passionate activist in the field of mental health services, and is dedicated as a mother of two children, to family and to her community in Montana.
