Tymara Thomas Doctoral Project Proposal Defense, Friday, December 5, 2025 @ 10:00 am Central Time
December 5, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Abida Solomon
TITLE: BRIDGING THE GAP: ENHANCING POSTPARTUM VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM (VTE) PREVENTION THROUGH NURSING EDUCATION
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a leading and preventable cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the postpartum period (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG], 2023; James et al., 2022). Despite the availability of national guidelines, inconsistent nursing adherence and lack of standardized protocols contribute to preventable complications. Addressing these practice gaps through nurse-focused education and the implementation of structured protocols is critical to improving maternal outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to improve nursing knowledge, competency, and adherence to a standardized VTE Risk Reduction Pathway through targeted education and the integration of an electronic medical record (EMR)–based decision-support tool. Methods: A convenience sample of 10 registered nurses will participate in a 30-minute structured education session addressing postpartum VTE risk factors, pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis, and the use of the EMR-embedded risk-assessment tool. Data will be collected using a validated pre- and post-intervention knowledge assessment, as well as chart audits of 10 patient records per phase, to evaluate adherence to the standardized protocol. Paired t-tests will compare pre- and post-education knowledge scores, and chi-square tests will examine differences in adherence and documentation accuracy. Conclusion: The intervention is expected to enhance nursing knowledge and competency, promote consistent adherence to protocols, and reduce practice variation. Findings are anticipated to demonstrate that structured education, combined with clinical decision-support tools, can strengthen evidence-based VTE prevention practices and advance maternal safety (Vestal et al., 2021; Vos et al., 2021).
Keywords: postpartum nursing, venous thromboembolism, VTE prevention, nursing education, quality improvement, electronic health record, maternal health, postpartum VTE.
Location Online:
Zoom Link:
https://pvpanther.zoom.us/j/92846770049?pwd=yBTZ0GYyGahd95XSKZlwH84SugKwFs.1
