Gene Denton 08

Many things play into Black maternal mortality. There are some doctors and nurses who show bias towards Black women whether conscious or subconscious. Black women are less monitored and not taken as seriously when their concerns are being discussed. Some Black women already have underlying conditions that make this even more difficult.  

Lack of health insurance can have a negative impact on someone’s health. Those who don’t have health insurance are likely to not afford the care that is needed. Coverage for health insurance is not probable for some black women, which leads to many black-serving hospitals having higher maternal complication rates. 

I want to pursue a college degree to further my education in the nursing profession, more specifically, labor and delivery. This will help improve my knowledge of the career and go into it with the right mindset. I want to be able to go out into the world and do something that I am passionate about. I know that nursing school will not be easy, but my goal is to stay determined and focused. I desire to go out into the world and create a safe environment for mothers. They should not have to worry about whether or not they will have to choose themselves, their child, or their children. I know that I can’t say that they will never have complications, however, the death rates are extremely high and that can be reduced. 

I am very passionate about making a change for the well-being of mothers and their infants. I believe in advocating for women’s needs during pregnancy and labor. I will be intentional about promoting policies that expand healthcare coverage and increase funds for maternal healthcare programs.  I believe in making women aware that they should speak up if they feel there is a problem.  They should know that it is important to make their doctors aware of what complications they could go through during pregnancy. Sometimes mothers are made to feel as if they are making too many complaints. However, they shouldn’t be discouraged because their bodies are going through changes. The ultimate goal is to make sure that there is a healthy mother and baby. Instead of being shunned, I as a labor and delivery nurse will have the opportunity to educate and empower mothers to be very crucial to their medical needs.

Representation in healthcare can be very beneficial for mothers. There is a sense of understanding and connection between people that look like you. It is so important to not be overlooked and implicit biases sometimes cause that. Inclusive environments in healthcare may also improve the number of times people of color have checkups and hospital visits for their health. Not only will that help mothers, but people in urban communities as a whole. 

My goal is to help contribute to reducing the maternal mortality rates in the United States moving forward. I have the utmost amount of hope in this pursuit. I know that I am capable of making a difference in the lives of mothers and their babies.