title: Preeclampsia: pathophysiology and implications for care.
abstract: Nurses are increasingly encountering pregnant/postpartum women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, of which preeclampsia is one of the most common. The Joint Commission published a Sentinel Event Alert in 2010 on prevention of maternal death. This report notes that one of the 5 leading causes of pregnancy-related mortality between 1991 and 1997 was "hypertensive disorder." Preeclampsia presents significant risk to the health of the mother and the fetus. Clearly, nurses must understand the pathophysiology, assessment, management, recurrence risk, and long-term implications of preeclampsia to participate fully in a management plan that promotes safe patient care.
authors.affiliation: The Junior League Fetal Center at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. nancy.s.townsend@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Drummond
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate