Caution: I'm a Late Preterm Infant
- List potential complications that late-preterm infants experience during transition.
- Develop education tools to prepare staff,patient and family for infant care after birth.
- Educate staff, patient and family of special needs of late preterm infant.
In collaboration with our New Family Center (NFC), our Quality and Safety Council(QSC) identified a need to improve hypothermia rates among the Late Preterm Infant (LPI) population. Upon further investigation, we realized that the staff needed an educational tool to present to the patient and her family on arrival that discussed more than just infant temperature. The RN also needed a consistent way to alert other health care providers entering the room of these infants’ special needs.
Proposed change:
In order to meet these educational needs, the QSC made policy revisions and created a LPI folder with educational material for staff, patients, and their families.
Implementation, outcomes and evaluation:
The QSC developed a LPI folder with staff and patient education material. A unique door hanger, color coding on the "white board" at the nurse’s station, signage on the radiant warmer, and a yellow hat for the infant, all color-coded, alerts all staff entering room of the infant’s special needs. Teaching for the patient included, not only temperature concerns, but also possible respiratory issues, infant sleepiness, and the need for the infant to be reassessed by the nursery staff at two hours of age. Revisions were then made to the LPI policy to reflect the information presented in the folder and the expectations of education for the LPI mother. Education was presented to the staff and residents. Since implementing the LPI initiative, hypothermia rates have decreased in the LPI population and we are continuing to monitor these rates. There has been heightened awareness in the staff regarding care of the LPI and increased education to the patient and family beginning on arrival to unit. This teaching reinforces education that takes place when patient is transferred to the NFC.
Implications for nursing practice:
The LPI folder ensures that all staff is aware of the LPI's special needs and can immediately implement LPI care. Upon arrival, the patient and family of the LPI are given an educational folder addressing the special needs of their baby. This education is implemented by the L&D staff immediately and reinforced upon transfer to the NFC. The seamless transition of education from L&D to the NFC allows for safe passage of the LPI along the continuum of care. By increasing the knowledge-base of the staff, pt and their family, we have decreased LPI related complications, time spent apart due to such complications, and increased participation of patient and family in the LPI’s plan of care.
Keywords: Late Preterm, Staff Education, Patient Education, Hypothermia
