Discharge Essentials- “The NICU Experience: Going Home”
- Identify the 13 NICU discharge essentials require of parents to provide safe care for their medically fragile infant.
- Describe the process of developing a discharge DVD to assist with consistent dissemination of discharge information.
- Identify elements of the “buy in” for an innovated discharge project to assist staff and parent with the utilization the resource.
Purpose for the program: Purpose for the program: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be a stressful and frightening experience for a diverse population of parents. Transition from the hospital to home requires discharge planning to assist parents in developing the skills necessary to safely care for their medically fragile infants. From admission of the neonate to discharge, the NICU bedside nurses teach the necessary skills sets to parents. Prior to discharge, a comprehensive NICU group discharge class was offered, ensuring consistent dissemination of information by a primary facilitator. However, encouraged but not required, the class attendance records showed a low attendance rate (50%).
Proposed change: Based on parent’s needs and staff requests a project was initiated. A literature review revealed essential discharge information for the medically fragile infants. Addressing the generational needs of the diverse population of NICU parents, a 35-minute, evidence-based practice (EBP), NICU discharge DVD was created. Parents can, at their convenience, view the DVD.
Implementation, outcomes and evaluation: The unit director and discharge coordinators encouraged bedside nurses to utilize this innovative alternative. However, once the bedside nurses have utilized the DVD, the DVD “sells” its self via enthusiasm of peers. Following the DVD review and prior to discharge of the infant, the NICU nurse assesses the parent’s ability to integrate acquired information while caring for their baby. Parent’s ability to integrate information is based upon: parents asking appropriate questions and interactions with staff and infant. This includes infant safety, wellness, growth and development, signs and symptoms of illness and parent care including identifying “Baby Blues”. Parents are encouraged to report to their healthcare provider any concerns regarding changes in their infant’s condition, behavior and/or feelings of personal wellbeing following discharge.
Preliminary data collection reveals the following: late night, weekend and holiday viewing, regular utilization by bedside nurses, appropriate, documentation of parent interactions, infant care and dialogue.
Implications for nursing practice: The time saving DVD allows beside nurses the ability to provide consistent discharge information to discharging parents 24/7 while continuing to care for their assigned infants.
Keywords:
Creative Teaching Method
Diverse Population
Medically Fragile Infants
Transition to home
