Implementation and Evaluation of the Quantification of Blood Loss and Postpartum Hemorrhage Education

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is an obstetric emergency that can lead to maternal morbidly and mortality. The literature is consistent that numerous maternal deaths related to PPH are preventable. The significant contributors identified to maternal deaths from PPH include deficient education obstetrical nurses have on PPH, delayed recognition, and miscalculations of blood loss. After completing a literature review on the current PPH practice and determining the current method of estimation of blood loss (EBL) to be inaccurate, obstetric nurses at a rural, southeast Kansas hospital were educated on PPH to improve recognition and determine a cumulative blood loss more accurately by the method of quantification. This study utilized a one-group pretest-posttest design to determine the knowledge gained on PPH and the technique of quantifying blood loss (QBL) after an education lesson. A PPH cart was created and navigated to help the nurses calculate QBL and prevent delays in PPH management. The nurses completed a six-week postimplementation survey to determine how the education program affected their knowledge and skills regarding PPH, QBL, and the PPH cart. According to the findings, the study indicated that an education program over PPH improves PPH knowledge and skills to quantify blood loss. The results determined the PPH cart was beneficial in performing QBL and the management of PPH. In conclusion, the educational lesson and conversion from estimation to the quantification of blood loss could ultimately decrease maternal morbidity and mortality