Keywords

evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary, perinatal morbidity and mortality conferences

 

Authors

  1. Hiner, Jacqueline MSN/Ed, RN
  2. White, Sharon MSN, RNC
  3. Fields, Willa DNSc, RN, FHIMSS

Abstract

Incorporating evidence-based practice into the hospital setting has been a challenge but is needed to deliver quality healthcare. Interdisciplinary morbidity and mortality conferences are used to discuss perinatal and neonatal care issues with high-risk and low-frequency cases, such as fetal demise, maternal death, or identified areas for improvement. By involving an interdisciplinary team to review the patient's case, a more holistic perspective of the patient's care will be achieved. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how nurses can be an essential part of the interdisciplinary morbidity and mortality conferences and how to infuse evidence-based practice into the conference. A perinatal morbidity and mortality conference will be described to illustrate how one maternal-neonatal department brought medicine and nursing together to review care.