Parental Engagement and Integration with a NICU Team

Nash, Alice Marie

Saturday, 16 November 2013

Alice Marie Nash, MA RNC-NIC
Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY

Learning Objective 1: The learner will identify the need to reestablish neonatal care priorities by incorporating the parents as an essential part of the heathcare team.

Learning Objective 2: The Learner will recognize the importance of the parents as key stakeholders in providing an optimal environment for the neonates health and well being.

Background: Thousands of neonates are born each year within the United States requiring specialized hospital care. As a result of the fragile nature of these infants, care is usually physiologically driven, and not family focused. This traditional focus of care provides minimal involvement for the parents.

Purpose: To facilitate the active role of parents as caregivers of their neonate, promote a family-focused model, and enhance parental engagement, nursing practice was modified to Integrate skin to skin (StS) bonding.

Methods: A multidisciplinary, quality improvement care team (QICT) modified nursing practice to facilitate parent-infant bonding through StS. To support the nurses to implement StS, a protocol was developed, strategies identified, and educational sessions provided. A pre/post survey design assessed the nurses’ knowledge and confidence regarding StS. Staff was encouraged to implement StS with all appropriate patients, seeking help as needed from the QICT members. Post testing will occur two months after the full implementation.

Findings: The sample consisted of female nurses; 52.8% older than 45 years of age, 22.6% 26-35 years, 67.3% Caucasian, 69.8% baccalaureate prepared, 82.7% married and 72% were parents. 67.9% had greater than 10 years of experience with 66% employed full time. The survey was based on a 5 point Likert scale. The baseline mean StS knowledge score was 77.56 (SD = 9.06) of a maximum score of 95 (range 19-25). The average self-reported confidence score was 85.72 (SD = 8.74) of a maximum score of 125 (range 25-125). At baseline knowledge and confidence were significantly correlated (r = .57, p = .000) nurses with children reported having greater confidence regarding StS Initiation (r = .29, p = .04).

Next Steps: The QICT members will explore staff and parent feedback, review the evidence supporting best practices, and strengthen nurses’ abilities to integrate parental involvement in the NICU.

See more of: 2012-2013 Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy Invited Posters
See more of: Invited Posters