title: Obstetric triage and advanced practice nursing.
abstract: Obstetric triage is a rapidly growing area of obstetric care where most pregnancy complaints are evaluated starting at 20-24 weeks' gestation. This renewed interest in establishing obstetric triage units and using advanced practice nurses as care providers has heightened the visibility of obstetric triage for administrators and practitioners alike. This article reviews the history of obstetric triage, the role dimensions of advanced practice nurses in triage (specifically midwives), the increased clinical risks associated with obstetric triage, risk reduction strategies, and obstetric triage practice trends and liability issues in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Angelini
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007587:Job Description; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing*; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*