Dr. Rebecca R S Clark received her PhD from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing where she was a Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing Scholar. Prior to pursuing doctoral work, she practiced as a Certified Nurse Midwife at a federally qualified health center and community hospital in West Virginia. Her doctoral research examined the use of synthetic oxytocin, a high-alert medication, during labor and its association with postpartum hemorrhage and primary cesarean section. Her research interests include maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the United States, racial disparities in maternal outcomes, opioid dependence in pregnancy and the role of nursing in maternal outcomes. While developing her program of research to improve the care of women and the policies that guide care, thereby improving health outcomes for women, she is working with RN4CAST 2016 data to develop some preliminary data and publications. 

Publications:

Clark, R. R., Warren, N., Shermock, K. M., Perrin, N., Lake, E., & Sharps, P. W. (2021). The Role of Oxytocin in Primary Cesarean Birth Among Low‐Risk Women. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 66(1), 54-61.

Clark, R. R., & Hou, J. (2021). Three machine learning algorithms and their utility in exploring risk factors associated with primary cesarean section in low‐risk women: A methods paper. Research in Nursing & Health, 44(3), 559-570.

Clark, Rebecca RS, and Eileen T. Lake. “Spontaneous vaginal birth varies significantly across US hospitals.” Birth 48.1 (2021): 44-51.

Lake, E. T., French, R., Clark, R. R., O’Rourke, K., & Lorch, S. (2021). Newborns With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Are Concentrated in Poorer-Quality Hospitals. Hospital Pediatrics, 11(4), 342-349.

Lasater, K. B., Clark, R. R., McCabe, M. A., Frankenberger, W. D., Agosto, P. M., Riman, K. A., & Aiken, L. H. (2021). Predictors of specialty certification among paediatric hospital nurses. Journal of clinical nursing, 30(1-2), 200-206.

Clark, Rebecca RS, et al. “Within-Hospital Concordance of Opioid Exposure Diagnosis Coding in Mothers and Newborns.” Hospital Pediatrics 11.8 (2021): 825-833.

Clark, R. R. S. Breastfeeding in Women on Opioid-Maintenance Therapy: A Review of Policy and Practice. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. Pending. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12982

Safley, R. & Swietlikowski, J.  (2017).  Pain Management in Opioid-Dependent Pregnant Women:  A Clinical Review.  Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing.  31(2):118-125.  doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000244.

  • Awarded Best Article of the Year by the Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing

First Author Conference Presentations (* denotes poster presentation)

  • *Clark, R., Lake, E. Poor Grades in Obstetric Quality and Safety. Academy Health: Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues, June 2020. (anticipating virtual conference due to covid19)
  • *Clark, R., Lake, E. Poor Grades in Obstetric Quality and Safety. Academy Health Annual Research Meeting, June 2020. (anticipating virtual conference due to covid19)