Audrey Lyndon

Faculty

Audrey Lyndon Headshot

Audrey Lyndon

PhD RNC FAAN

Executive Vice Dean
Vernice D. Ferguson Professor in Health Equity

1 212 922 5940

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Accepting PhD students

Prof. Lyndon is the Vernice D. Ferguson Professor in Health Equity and Executive Vice Dean at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Her work focuses on three key areas: maternal health equity, community health engagement, and developing the nursing science and healthcare workforce. Lyndon’s maternal health work has focused on patient safety and quality in maternity and neonatal care, including improving communication and teamwork among clinicians; identifying parents’ perspectives on safety during labor, birth, and neonatal care; developing nurse-sensitive outcomes for labor and birth; researching severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality; and holistic perinatal wellbeing. Her team has conducted groundbreaking research on the differences in clinicians’ and parents’ perspectives on speaking up about safety concerns, as well as developing an understanding of how women and parents conceptualize safety during childbirth and neonatal intensive care. Lyndon co-chaired the development of the CMQCC Obstetric Hemorrhage Toolkit, which became a national and international model for maternal safety bundles and collaborative quality improvement. Lyndon led an interdisciplinary research study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that established hospital-level exclusive breastfeeding rates and cesarean birth rates as nurse-sensitive outcomes. Lyndon’s current work focuses on understanding the experiences of communities that have faced higher rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality. She and her team seek to gain a deeper understanding of the support needs and research priorities of severe maternal morbidity survivors, and to develop community-driven prevention targets for SMM and maternal health complications. Lyndon’s dedication to developing the nursing science and healthcare workforce includes mentoring and sponsoring clinicians and scientists from underserved communities. Her goals are to develop effective pathway programs for these individuals to pursue careers in nursing, nursing science, and clinical specialties.

 

PhD, University of California
MS, University of California
BA, University of California
Health Services Research
Qualitative Research
Women's health
American Academy of Nursing
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Educational Affiliate
American Nurses Association
Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Vernice D. Ferguson Professor in Health Equity, Rory Meyers College of Nursing (2021)
PhD Program Mentor of the Year, University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing (2019)
James P. and Marjorie A. Livingston Chair in Nursing Excellence, University of California, San Francisco (2018)
Reviewer of the Year, Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing (2017)
Irving Harris Visiting Professor, University of Illinois, Chicago College of Nursing (2015)
Distinguished Professional Service Award, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (2013)
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2012)
Award of Excellence in Research, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (2011)

Confronting safety gaps across labor and delivery teams

Lyndon, A., Maxfield, D. G., Lyndon, A., Kennedy, H. P., O’Keeffe, D. F., & Zlatnik, M. G. (2013). In American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Vols. 209, Issues 5, pp. 402-408.e3).
Abstract
Abstract
We assessed the occurrence of 4 safety concerns among labor and delivery teams: dangerous shortcuts, missing competencies, disrespect, and performance problems. A total of 3282 participants completed surveys, and 92% of physicians (906 of 985), 93% of midwives (385 of 414), and 98% of nurses (1846 of 1884) observed at least 1 concern within the preceding year. A majority of respondents said these concerns undermined patient safety, harmed patients, or led them to seriously consider transferring or leaving their positions. Only 9% of physicians, 13% of midwives, and 13% of nurses shared their full concerns with the person involved. Organizational silence is evident within labor-and-delivery teams. Improvement will require multiple strategies, used at the personal, social, and structural levels.

The Continuum of Maternal Sepsis Severity : Incidence and Risk Factors in a Population-Based Cohort Study

Acosta, C. D., Knight, M., Lee, H. C., Kurinczuk, J. J., Gould, J. B., & Lyndon, A. (2013). In PloS one (Vols. 8, Issues 7). 10.1371/journal.pone.0067175
Abstract
Abstract
Objective:To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with uncomplicated maternal sepsis and progression to severe sepsis in a large population-based birth cohort.Methods:This retrospective cohort study used linked hospital discharge and vital statistics records data for 1,622,474 live births in California during 2005-2007. Demographic and clinical factors were adjusted using multivariable logistic regression with robust standard errors.Results:1598 mothers developed sepsis; incidence of all sepsis was 10 per 10,000 live births (95% CI = 9.4-10.3). Women had significantly increased adjusted odds (aOR) of developing sepsis if they were older (25-34 years: aOR = 1.29; ≥35 years: aOR = 1.41), had ≤high-school education (aOR = 1.63), public/no-insurance (aOR = 1.22) or a cesarean section (primary: aOR = 1.99; repeat: aOR = 1.25). 791 women progressed to severe sepsis; incidence of severe sepsis was 4.9 per 10,000 live births (95% CI = 4.5-5.2). Women had significantly increased adjusted odds of progressing to severe sepsis if they were Black (aOR = 2.09), Asian (aOR = 1.59), Hispanic (aOR = 1.42), had public/no-insurance (aOR = 1.52), delivered in hospitals with

The continuum of maternal sepsis severity: incidence and risk factors in a population-based cohort study

Lyndon, A., Acosta, C. D., Knight, M., Lee, H. C., Kurinczuk, J. J. J., Gould, J. B., & Lyndon, A. (2013). In PloS one (Vols. 8, Issues 7, p. e67175).
Abstract
Abstract
To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with uncomplicated maternal sepsis and progression to severe sepsis in a large population-based birth cohort.

Dancing around death : Hospitalist-patient communication about serious illness

Anderson, W. G., Kools, S., & Lyndon, A. (2013). In Qualitative Health Research (Vols. 23, Issue 1, pp. 3-13). 10.1177/1049732312461728
Abstract
Abstract
Hospital physicians care for most seriously ill patients in the United States. We employed dimensional analysis to describe communication about death and dying in audio-recorded admission encounters between seriously ill patients and hospitalists. Acknowledging or not acknowledging the possibility of dying emerged as a key process. Acknowledgment was rare, and depended on synergistic communication behaviors between patient and physician. Facilitators included patients cuing for information and disclosing emotional distress, and physicians exploring the patient's understanding of his or her illness and emotional distress. When hospitalists focused on acute issues, stated that they were awaiting test results, and deferred to other physicians, discussion moved away from acknowledgment. Meaningful discussion of end-of-life issues, including goals and values, fears about death and dying, prognosis, and options for palliative care followed open acknowledgment. This acknowledgment process can serve as a guide for providers to sensitively and honestly discuss essential end-of-life issues.

Dancing around death: hospitalist-patient communication about serious illness

Lyndon, A., Anderson, W. G., Kools, S., & Lyndon, A. (2013). In Qualitative health research (Vols. 23, Issue 1, pp. 3-13).
Abstract
Abstract
Hospital physicians care for most seriously ill patients in the United States. We employed dimensional analysis to describe communication about death and dying in audio-recorded admission encounters between seriously ill patients and hospitalists. Acknowledging or not acknowledging the possibility of dying emerged as a key process. Acknowledgment was rare, and depended on synergistic communication behaviors between patient and physician. Facilitators included patients cuing for information and disclosing emotional distress, and physicians exploring the patient's understanding of his or her illness and emotional distress. When hospitalists focused on acute issues, stated that they were awaiting test results, and deferred to other physicians, discussion moved away from acknowledgment. Meaningful discussion of end-of-life issues, including goals and values, fears about death and dying, prognosis, and options for palliative care followed open acknowledgment. This acknowledgment process can serve as a guide for providers to sensitively and honestly discuss essential end-of-life issues.

Erratum : Predictors of likelihood of speaking up about safety concerns in labour and delivery (BMJ Quality and Safety (2012) 21 (791-799))

Lyndon, A., Lyndon, A., Sexton, J. B., Simpson, K. R., Rosenstein, A., Lee, K. A., & Wachter, R. M. (2013). In BMJ Quality and Safety (Vols. 22, Issues 2, p. 182). 10.1136/bmjqs.2010.050211
Abstract
Abstract
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Fetal assessment during labor

Lyndon, A., O'Brien-Abel, N., & Simpson, K. R. (2013). In Perinatal Nursing : Fourth Edition. Wolters Kluwer Health Adis (ESP).
Abstract
Abstract
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Nurses' Perspectives on the Intersection of Safety and Informed Decision Making in Maternity Care

Jacobson, C. H., Zlatnik, M. G., Kennedy, H. P., & Lyndon, A. (2013). In JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing (Vols. 42, Issues 5, pp. 577-587). 10.1111/1552-6909.12232
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: To explore maternity nurses' perceptions of women's informed decision making during labor and birth to better understand how interdisciplinary communication challenges might affect patient safety. Design: Constructivist grounded theory. Setting: Four hospitals in the western United States. Participants: Forty-six (46) nurses and physicians practicing in maternity units. Method: Data collection strategies included individual interviews and participant observation. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method, dimensional analysis, and situational analysis (Charmaz, ; Clarke, ; Schatzman, ). Results: The nurses' central action of holding off harm encompassed three communication strategies: persuading agreement, managing information, and coaching of mothers and physicians. These strategies were executed in a complex, hierarchical context characterized by varied practice patterns and relationships. Nurses' priorities and patient safety goals were sometimes misaligned with those of physicians, resulting in potentially unsafe communication. Conclusions: The communication strategies nurses employed resulted in intended and unintended consequences with safety implications for mothers and providers and had the potential to trap women in the middle of interprofessional conflicts and differences of opinion.

Nurses' perspectives on the intersection of safety and informed decision making in maternity care

Lyndon, A., Jacobson, C. H., Zlatnik, M. G., Kennedy, H. P., & Lyndon, A. (2013). In Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN (Vols. 42, Issues 5, pp. 577-87).
Abstract
Abstract
To explore maternity nurses' perceptions of women's informed decision making during labor and birth to better understand how interdisciplinary communication challenges might affect patient safety.

Nurses share real-life research experiences

Damato, E., Lund, C., Lyndon, A., Simpson, K. R., Stark, M. A., & Bingham, D. (2013). In Nursing for Women's Health (Vols. 17, Issues 5, pp. 412-419). 10.1111/1751-486X.12064
Abstract
Abstract
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