Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy

Course overview

Maternal death is increasing in the U.S., with cardiovascular disease (CVD) being a primary cause of mortality in pregnancy (Lindley et al., 2021). Patients with CVD who are pregnant require a multidisciplinary approach, such as a cardio-obstetrics team, and close monitoring to preserve maternal and fetal health. Nurses who work in gynecology and obstetrics should have a basic understanding of the effects of pregnancy on cardiovascular health. They should also be aware of common CVD pathologies seen in pregnancy. The goal of this course is to provide nursing professionals in acute care with a general overview of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy.