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A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Frequency of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Extreme Low-Birth-Weight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nation, H; Sanlorenzo, L; Lebar, K; Brandon, D
Published in: The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing
July 2021

Benefits of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) are documented but often delayed in the extremely preterm population due to medical complexity and staff misconceptions about safety. This quality improvement initiative was designed to increase SSC utilization among infants born before 29 weeks' gestation regardless of respiratory support by addressing nursing barriers inhibiting SSC. A pre-/postsurvey evaluated comfort level performing and perceived barriers to SSC utilization. Implementation consisted of an updated unit-specific SSC protocol and tailored education specific to identified barriers. Evaluation included SSC rates and maternal human milk usage in the first 30 days of life. In total, 81 patients (22-28 weeks, 370-1410 g) were included. SSC rates ranged from 3.3% to 17.7% at baseline and increased to 33.2% to 39.1% postintervention. Maternal human milk utilization increased above target (≥75%) postintervention for days 7 and 14, but declined towards baseline on days 21 and 30. A statistically significant increase was observed in nursing comfort level when performing SSC for intubated infants as well as infants with a peripherally inserted central catheter or umbilical venous catheter. SSC rates increased with infants younger than 29 weeks requiring intubation and central line management, possibly as a result of greater nursing comfort surrounding with SSC.

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Published In

The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing

DOI

EISSN

1550-5073

ISSN

0893-2190

Publication Date

July 2021

Volume

35

Issue

3

Start / End Page

247 / 257

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin
  • Quality Improvement
  • Nursing
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Gestational Age
  • 1110 Nursing
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Nation, H., Sanlorenzo, L., Lebar, K., & Brandon, D. (2021). A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Frequency of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Extreme Low-Birth-Weight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 35(3), 247–257. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpn.0000000000000556
Nation, Helen, Lauren Sanlorenzo, Kiersten Lebar, and Debra Brandon. “A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Frequency of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Extreme Low-Birth-Weight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing 35, no. 3 (July 2021): 247–57. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpn.0000000000000556.
Nation H, Sanlorenzo L, Lebar K, Brandon D. A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Frequency of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Extreme Low-Birth-Weight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing. 2021 Jul;35(3):247–57.
Nation, Helen, et al. “A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Frequency of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Extreme Low-Birth-Weight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, vol. 35, no. 3, July 2021, pp. 247–57. Epmc, doi:10.1097/jpn.0000000000000556.
Nation H, Sanlorenzo L, Lebar K, Brandon D. A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Frequency of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Extreme Low-Birth-Weight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing. 2021 Jul;35(3):247–257.

Published In

The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing

DOI

EISSN

1550-5073

ISSN

0893-2190

Publication Date

July 2021

Volume

35

Issue

3

Start / End Page

247 / 257

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin
  • Quality Improvement
  • Nursing
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Gestational Age
  • 1110 Nursing