Lucy VanOtterloo, PhD, RNC, CNS

Dr. VanOtterloo has been on faculty with the CSULB School of Nursing since 2001.  She currently teaches maternal newborn nursing and serves as the trimester pathway coordinator.  Dr. VanOtterloo has over 30 years of experience at various levels in obstetrics including as a nurse at the bedside, as a clinical case manager for high-risk pregnancies, and as a perinatal clinical nurse specialist. 

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from California State University, Los Angeles, a Master of Science degree in nursing from Azusa Pacific University and a PhD in nursing from the University of San Diego.

Dr. VanOtterloo’s research focuses on strategies to improve outcomes for high-risk pregnancies, maternal risk-appropriate care and maternal transport.  She is a member of the Southern California Pregnancy-Related Maternal Mortality Review team whose charge is to develop recommendations to advance the quality of care for pregnant and parenting families and reduce maternal mortality rates across the state.

University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 

  • Doctorate in Nursing (2013)

Azusa Pacific University (2000)

  • Master of Science of Nursing, Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist 

California State University, Los Angeles (1986)

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing 

  • Van Otterloo, L. & Connelly, C. (2016). Maternal risk during pregancy: a concept analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, accepted for publication March 2016. 
  • Van Otterloo, L. (2015). Endoctrine and metabolic disorders. In Core Curriculum for Maternal-Newborn Nursing (S. Mattson & J. Smith, Eds). Elsevier Saunders: St. Louis, Missouri. 

National March of Dimes 

  • Granted $100,000
  • Established an alliance of health care professionals, public health officials, individuals, and organizations to provide leadership in the development and implementation of a strategic plan to systematically enhance maternal risk-appropriate care in California

Orange County Children's Commission

  • Granted $135,000
  • Implement strategies that have a positive impact on breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity
  • Promotion of patient and provider education