Aims and objectives To report an analysis of the concept of perinatal posttraumatic stress disorder (PPTSD). Background Prevalence of PPTSD is rising in the United States, with 9% of the U.S. perinatal population diagnosed with the disorder and an additional 18% being at risk for the condition. Left untreated, adverse maternal-child outcomes result in increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Design Concept analysis via Walker and Avant’s approach. Methods The databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, Academic Search Premier, and PsychINFO were searched for articles, written in English, published between 2006 and 2015, containing the terms perinatal and PTSD. Results PPTSD owns unique attributes, antecedents, and outcomes when compared to PTSD in other contexts, and may be defined as a disorder arising after a traumatic experience; diagnosed any time from conception to 6 months postpartum; lasting longer than 1 month; leading to specific negative maternal symptoms, and poor maternal-infant outcomes. Attributes include a diagnostic time frame (conception to 6 months postpartum), harmful prior or current trauma, and specific diagnostic symptomatology defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. Antecedents were identified as trauma (perinatal complications and abuse), postpartum depression, and previous psychiatric history. Consequences comprised adverse maternal-infant outcomes. Conclusions Further research on PPTSD antecedents, attributes and outcomes in ethnically diverse populations may provide clinicians a more comprehensive framework for identifying and treating PPTSD. Relevance to clinical practice Nurses are encouraged to increase their awareness of PPTSD for early assessment and intervention, and prevention of adverse maternal-infant outcomes.

This article presents the feasibility and acceptability of using mobile health technology by community health workers (CHWs) in San Juan Province, Dominican Republic, to improve identification of pregnancy complications and access to care for pregnant women. Although most women in the Dominican Republic receive four antenatal care visits, poor women and adolescents in remote areas are more likely to have only one initial prenatal visit to verify the pregnancy. This community-based research began when community leaders raised concern about the numbers of their mothers who died in childbirth annually; San Juan's maternal mortality rate is 144/100,000 compared to the Caribbean rate of 85/100,000. Eight CHWs in three communities were taught to provide third-trimester antenatal assessment, upload the data on a mobile phone application, send the data to the local physician who monitored data for "red flags," and call directly if a mother had an urgent problem. Fifty-two pregnant women enrolled, 38 were followed to delivery, 95 antenatal care postintake were provided, 2 urgent complications required CHW home management of mothers, and there were 0 deaths. Stakeholders endorsed acceptability of intervention. Preliminary data suggest CHWs using mobile health technology is feasible, linking underserved and formal health care systems with provision of primary care in mothers' homes.

Freshman nursing students returning for their second semester after summer break benefited by reviewing previously learned clinical skills presented in a Skills-a-Thon. Skills stations were established and facilitated by faculty and senior students. Senior students were first trained in mentoring and specific steps in skills competencies. Freshman students demonstrated skills in various mock clinical situations including catheter insertion, sterile dressings, medications, and physical assessment. The strategy reinforced learning and provided an opportunity for students to experience risk-free skills performance among peers. Freshman students gained proficiency and appreciated guidance by senior students without the pressures of testing. Seniors benefited from a condensed version of the program to review their own skills prior to the event. Responses were positive, with students reporting improved performance and confidence with hands-on application in a non-threatening environment. Nursing faculty observed improvement in skill performance and competence, and plan to offer future events.

Technology is widely used to support qualitative research. Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) encompasses complementary technologies to support qualitative analysis. Advantages of CAQDAS include efficient management of data and transparency in analysis. Disadvantages include heavy emphasis on coding as a distractor from analysis and considerable time to learn the program. In this methods article, we, as less experienced, qualitative researchers describe our experiences using NVivo, a CAQDAS program, in a descriptive phenomenological study using Colaizzi’s method. Over 1 year, 24 postpartum women were given a secure research link to record their experiences with pain and depression during the third trimester of pregnancy. Although NVivo analysis was helpful, the philosophy of phenomenology, reflexivity, and Colaizzi’s method directed researchers away from NVivo for the final summation. Recommendations for future use of CAQDAS used concurrently with Colaizzi’s method include the use of word clouds and other visualizations for bracketing and triangulation.