Theory Objectives
1. Describe the anatomic and physiologic changes that occur during the postpartum period.
2. Discuss characteristic of uterine involution and lochial flow and describe ways to measure them.
3. List expected values for vital and blood pressure, deviation from normal findings, and probable causes of the deviations.
4. Describe components of a systemic postpartum assessment.
5. Recognize signs of potential complications in the postpartum woman.
6. Identify common selection criteria for safe early postpartum discharge.
7. Formulate a nursing care plan for a woman in the postpartum period.
8. Identify parental and infant behaviors that facilitate and those that inhibit parental attachment.
9. Describe ways in which the nurse can facilitate parent-infant adjustment.
10. Describe sibling adjustment.
11. Identify causes, signs and symptoms, possible complications, and medical and nursing management of postpartum hemorrhage.
12. Describe hemorrhagic shock as a complication of postpartum hemorrhage, including medical management and nursing interventions.
13. Identify causes, signs and symptoms, possible complications, and medical and nursing management of postpartum infection.
14. Describe thromboembolic disorders, including incidence, etiology, signs and symptoms, and management.
15. Summarize the nurse in the home setting assessing potential problems and managing the woman with postpartum complications.
16. Describe structural disorders of the uterus and vagina that can result from childbearing.
17. Differentiate among postpartum psychological complications including incidence, risk factors, signs and symptoms, severity, and management.
18. Describe the nurse’s role in assisting families who are grieving after maternal death.