“Being in her position may help put Black patients at ease by having a nurse who looks like them as a part of their healthcare plan– someone who understands them culturally”
Being a professional nurse isn’t just a job – it’s a calling. At the intersection of compassion and advocacy you will find Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College student Zykita Deal.
After watching a film about the maternal health disparities that impact Black and brown women, Deal knew she had found her calling. She thought to herself ‘‘What can I do to make things better with the healthcare system for African American mothers.’’
Some Black maternal patients’ experiences come from a lack of access to comprehensive, integrated maternal health services, Deal said. Services that show the highest impact include advocacy nursing.
Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate in the United States – 69.9 per 100,000 live births for 2021, almost three times the rate for white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Missouri, health officials determined many of these pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. The ramifications of poor maternal health for Black and brown women also affect Black and brown babies.
“I want to find a way to be that bridge between patients and doctors so that we can help save the lives of Black mothers,” Deal said. She plans to help build trust in the healthcare system. From her perspective, she believes being in her position may help put Black patients at ease by having a nurse who looks like them as a part of their healthcare plan – someone who understands them culturally.
Black babies are more likely to die, and also far more likely to be born prematurely, setting the stage for health issues that could follow them through their lives.
Evidence of Black babies born in St. Louis shows they are three times as likely to die before their first birthday as white babies. The infant mortality rate for black families is 13.5 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 4.4 deaths per 1,000 live births for white families. Data from 2011-2015 shows that 174 of the 232 St. Louis babies who died before their first birthday were Black.
Compared to white infants, black infants experience higher rates of nearly every risk factor that contributes to infant mortality, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects. If infant mortality rates were equitable, 23 fewer black babies would die before their first birthday every year.
To ensure that she will be a part of the solution, Deal recently accepted a position at St. Mary’s Hospital in the labor and delivery department. Deal will take the knowledge she has gained at nursing school and apply those techniques at her new job. The hands-on learning experiences have allowed Deal to witness patients meet their milestones toward healthy living. She is excited to be a part of her new patient’s care plan and advocate for them.
However, it’s not always rainbows and sunshine for nursing students or nurses, many of whom have their own struggles to deal with.
“I used to beat myself up a lot,” Deal said when referencing how hard she is on herself. Over time, she has learned to give herself the same type of grace and care she gives to those that she cares for.
“It’s nice to care for those who can’t take care of themselves, but nurses are people too, and we need to also take care of ourselves. If we don’t take care of ourselves then who is going to take care of our patients.”
Deal understands that she has to manage her time well and strike a balance between being a single mom and a full-time student in a demanding profession.
“I’ve experienced exhaustion and guilt, feeling like I wasn’t giving my son the attention he needed,” Deal said. But through the ups and downs the future nurse has gained a great deal of compassion for others, has a great work ethic, and is on her way to helping close the maternal health gap for Black and brown mothers.
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.