Samantha Sommerness, DNP, APRN, CNM

Dr. Sommerness earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in nursing from University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Portland. Dr. Sommerness served as an Army nurse from 1993 to 1998 and as an advanced practice perinatal leader at Fairview Southdale Hospital. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing. Dr. Sommerness has played a pivotal role in many students’ lives. She makes strong contributions to the future of nursing by helping and mentoring nursing students so they can develop in a positive learning environment.

Improving the safety of mothers and infants in health care systems; Second Stage Labor: Implementation science and the quality improvement for positive clinical practice changes; Long-term connection with infant breastfeeding and childhood obesity

• Exceptional Mentorship DAISY Award, 2020
• Outstanding Teaching and Dedication, Center for Education Innovation, 2019
• Outstanding Teaching and Dedication, Center for Education Innovation, 2018
• Letter of Recognition, Center for Educational Innovation, 2017
• Dean’s 2018 LEADS, 2017
• GEM Award (Going the Extra Mile), 2013
• Nurse of the Year Award, March of Dimes, 2013
• Nurse of the Year Award , March of Dimes, 2012
• Caregiver of the Year Award, Minnesota Hospital Association, 2012
• People’s Choice Award Best Poster Presentation for the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS), Journey to Zero Birth Injury: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety, 2011
• People’s Choice Award Best Poster Presentation for the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS), Journey to Zero Birth Injury: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety, 2011
• Nurse of the Year Award , March of Dimes, 2011
• Sandra Edwardson Excellence in Doctorate of Nursing Projects, 2011
• People’s Choice Award Best Poster Presentation for the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS), Journey to Zero Birth Injury: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety, 2010
• GEM Award, Going the Extra Mile, Fairview Health Service, 2010

• Sigma Theta Tau, Xi Chapter
• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
• American College of Nurse-Midwives

Kahwati, L. C., Sorensen, A. V., Texteria-Poit, S., Jacobs, S., Sommerness, S. A., Miller, K. K., Pleasants, E., Clare, H. M., Hirt, C. L., Davis, S. E., Ivester, T., Caldwell, D., Muri, J. H., Mistry, K. B., 2019. Impact of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Safety Program for Perinatal Care. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 45 (4): 231-240.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.11.002

Gray, K. B., Sorensen, A. V., Sommerness, S. A., Miller, K. K., Clare, H. M., Mistry, K., Kahwati, L., 2018. Implementation Experiences with Improving Safe Medication Practices for Oxytocin and Magnesium Sulfate During Labor and Delivery. Research on Women’s Health, 1 (1): 2.
doi: https://doi.org/10.24983/scitemed.rwh.2018.00075

Sommerness, S. A., Ananta, B., Hirt, C., Gams, R., Rauk, P. N., Avery, M. D., Delkoski, S. L., Miller, K., Landers, D. V., 2018. Birth Outcomes After Implementing an Evidence-Based Guideline for Managing Delayed Pushing in Second Stage Labor in Women with Epidural Anesthesia. Research on Women's Health, 1 (1): 1.
doi: https://doi.org/10.24983/scitemed.rwh.2018.00059

McArdle, J., Sorensen, A., Fowler, C. I., Sommerness, S., Burson, K., Kahwati, L., 2018. Strategies to Improve Management of Shoulder Dystocia Under the AHRQ Safety Program for Perinatal Care. JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 47 (2): 191-201.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.11.014

Webb, J., Sorensen, A., Sommerness, S., Lasater, B., Mistry, K., Kahwati, L., 2017. Advancing Perinatal Patient Safety through Application of Safety Science Principles Using Health IT. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 17 (1):
doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-017-0572-8

Gams, R. L., Popp, K. K., Cramer, J., George, T. N., Rauk, P. N., Sommerness, S. A., Sublette, J. A., 2017. How to Engage Your Team to Implement Delayed Cord Clamping. Nursing for Women's Health, 21 (6): 489-498.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2017.10.003

Sommerness, S. A., Rebecca, G., Phillip, R. N., Ananta, B., Daniel, L. V., Avery, M. D., Charles, H., Miller, K., Millar, A., Suzin, C., Andrea, S., 2017. The Perinatal Birth Environment: Communication Strategies and Processes for Adherence to a Standardized Guideline in Women Undergoing Second-Stage Labor With Epidural Anesthesia. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nurses, 31 (1): 41-50.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/JPN.0000000000000224 PubMed ID: 28121757.

Kozhimannil, K. B., Sommerness, S. A., Rauk, P., Gams, R., Hirt, C., Davis, S., Miller, K. K., Landers, D. V., 2013. A Perinatal Care Quality and Safety Initiative: Are there Financial Rewards for Improved Quality. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 39 (8): 339-348.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1553-7250(13)39048-5

Miller, L., Arnold, J., Sommerness, S. A. "Informed Consent Vs. Informed Choice: Legal, Nursing, and Patient Perspectives", 2020 AWHONN Annual Convention, The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. June 13, 2020.

Abney, A., Sommerness, S. A. "Pilot Study of a Protocol for Eat Sleep Console (ESC) at a Regional Hospital", AWHONN MN, April 16, 2020.

Sommerness, S. A. "Faculty and facilitator, delivering webinars for AHRQ’s Safety Program for Perinatal Care (SPPC), an ongoing project to improve communication, safety and quality of care for mothers and their infants", AHRQ, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 01, 2020.

Sommerness, S. A. "Supporting Physiologic Labor Support: A Quality Improvement Project in the School of Nursing", AWHONN California Section 2019 Conference, The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, San Francisco, California, United States. June 12, 2019.

Sommerness, S. A. "Supporting Physiologic Labor Support: A Quality Improvement Project in the School of Nursing", American College of Nurse - Midwives (ACNM) 64th Annual Meeting and Exhibition, ACNM, Washington, District of Columbia, United States. May 20, 2019.

Sommerness, S. A. "Management of 2nd Stage of Labor and Impact on Cesarean Section Rates", The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses 2019, The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, San Francisco, California, United States. April 04, 2019.

Sommerness, S. A. "Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Birth", March of Dimes 2019, March of Dines, Chicago, Illinois, United States. March 03, 2019.

Sommerness, S. A. "A Primer on Third Stage Management: Clinical Considerations for the Obstetric Team", Minnesota Perinatal Organization, September 27, 2018.

Sommerness, S. A., Hoffman, S. J., Goering, M. R. "Perinatal Mythbusters!: Test Your Bedside Cred", Minnesota AWHONN 20th Annual Conference, AWHONN, Minnesota, United States. April 11, 2018.

Fulkerson, J. A., Lindberg, J., Sidebottom, A., Horning Dehmer, M. L., Linde, J., Barr-Anderson, D., Friend, S., Sommerness, S. A. "The Nu-Home Study: A collaboration Between University of Minnesota Childhood Obesity Researchers and Leaders in Organizations Working in a Rural Community", Research Day, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. April 06, 2018.

Sommerness, S. A. "Second Stage Labor: Managing Patients with Regional Anesthesia", March of Dimes 43rd Annual Perinatal Nursing Conference Planning for Healthy Beginnings, March of Dimes, Chicago, Illinois, United States. March 13, 2018.