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)

Dancing around death: hospitalist-patient communication about serious illness

Lyndon, A., Anderson, W. G., Kools, S., & Lyndon, A. (2013). (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). (Vols. 22, Issues 2, p. 182). 10.1136/bmjqs.2010.050211
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).
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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). (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). (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). (Vols. 17, Issues 5, pp. 412-419). 10.1111/1751-486X.12064
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Nurses share real-life research experiences

Lyndon, A., Damato, E., Lund, C., Lyndon, A., Simpson, K. R., Stark, M. A., & Bingham, D. (2013). (Vols. 17, Issues 5, pp. 412-9).
Abstract
Abstract
Nursing for Women's Health convened a group of nurse researchers for a roundtable discussion about the relationship of research to the profession of nursing, how research drives evidence-based practice and how nurses can get involved in research and in its application to the care of women and newborns.

Perspectives on promoting breastmilk feedings for premature infants during a quality improvement project

Lee, H. C., Martin-Anderson, S., Lyndon, A., & Dudley, R. A. (2013). (Vols. 8, Issues 2, pp. 176-180). 10.1089/bfm.2012.0056
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: This study investigated clinicians' perspectives during a quality improvement project to promote breastmilk feedings in premature infants. Study Design: From 2009 to 2010, 11 hospitals in the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative participated in a project to promote breastmilk feedings in premature infants. Audio recordings of monthly meetings held to encourage sharing of ideas were analyzed using qualitative methods to identify common themes related to barriers and solutions to breastmilk feeding promotion. Results: Two broad categories were noted: communication and team composition. Communication subthemes included (1) communication among hospital staff, including consistent documentation, (2) communication with family, and (3) communication between transfer hospitals. Team composition subthemes included (4) importance of physician buy-in and (5) integrated teams designed to empower leaders. Conclusions: Optimizing communication among health professionals and parents and improving team composition may be key components of facilitating breastmilk feeding promotion in premature infants.

Maternal morbidity during childbirth hospitalization in California

Lyndon, A., Lee, H. C., Gilbert, W. M., Gould, J. B., & Lee, K. A. (2012). (Vols. 25, Issues 12, pp. 2529-2535). 10.3109/14767058.2012.710280
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors for maternal morbidity during childbirth hospitalization. Methods: Maternal morbidities were determined using ICD9-CM and vital records codes from linked hospital discharge and vital records data for 1,572,909 singleton births in California during 2005-2007. Socio-demographic, obstetric and hospital volume risk factors were estimated using mixed effects logistic regression models. Results: The maternal morbidity rate was 241/1000 births. The most common morbidities were episiotomy, pelvic trauma, maternal infection, postpartum hemorrhage and severe laceration. Preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.96; 95% confidence interval 2.8,3.13), maternal age over 35 years, (AOR: 1.92; 1.79,2.06), vaginal birth after cesarean, (AOR: 1.81; 1.47,2.23) and repeat cesarean birth (AOR: 1.99; 1.87,2.12) conferred the highest odds of severe morbidity. Non-white women were more likely to suffer morbidity. Conclusions: Nearly one in four California women experienced complications during childbirth hospitalization. Significant health disparities in maternal childbirth outcomes persist in the USA.

Nurses' Perceptions of Critical Issues Requiring Consideration in the Development of Guidelines for Professional Registered Nurse Staffing for Perinatal Units

Simpson, K. R., Lyndon, A., Wilson, J., & Ruhl, C. (2012). (Vols. 41, Issues 4, pp. 474-482). 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2012.01383.x
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Abstract
Objective: To solicit input from registered nurse members of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) on critical considerations for review and revision of existing nurse staffing guidelines. Design: Thematic analysis of responses to a cross-sectional on-line survey question: "Please give the staffing task force your input on what they should consider in the development of recommendations for staffing of perinatal units." Participants: Members of AWHONN (N = 884). Results: Descriptions of staffing concerns that should be considered when evaluating and revising existing perinatal nurse staffing guidelines. Consistent themes identified included the need for revision of nurse staffing guidelines due to requirements for safe care, increases in patient acuity and complexity, invisibility of the fetus and newborn as separate and distinct patients, difficulties in providing comprehensive care during labor and for mother-baby couplets under current conditions, challenges in staffing small volume units, and the negative effect of inadequate staffing on nurse satisfaction and retention. Conclusion: Participants overwhelmingly indicated current nurse staffing guidelines were inadequate to meet the needs of contemporary perinatal clinical practice and required revision based on significant changes that had occurred since 1983 when the original staffing guidelines were published.