Evaluation and Development of Potentially Better Practices for Staffing in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. Five NICUs that participate in the Vermont Oxford Network's Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Improvement Collaborative 2002 attempted to identify potentially better practices that would have a directly impact on nurse recruitment and retention. The group identified nurse recruitment and retention as an important initiative for many hospitals that face a nursing shortage.METHODS. The group analyzed information from hospital demographics, literature reviews, process analysis questionnaires, and site visits.RESULTS. The literature review, process analysis questionnaire, and benchmarking with magnet hospitals identified 5 drivers for retention and recruitment. The drivers evolved into 5 potentially better practices that cover orientation, recognition and rewards, work environment, nurse/physician collaboration, and nursing autonomy. The magnet hospitals, which are known to have the highest retention rate and the lowest turnover rate, have many of these potentially better practices in place.CONCLUSION. The 5 practices described herein have the potential to decrease nursing turnover in NICUs.www.pediatrics.org/cgi

Mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight newborn infants assisted in Buenos Aires public hospitals

“…In order to improve these results, it might be necessary to be determined and to disseminate practices with sound and widely proven benefits. [17][18][19] Neonatal mortality of VLBW infants in hospitals in the city of Buenos Aires is higher than that of NEOCOSUR in all weight and gestational age groups, except in the ranges of 1250-1499 g and 33-36 weeks, and is lower than the percentages reported by the Ministry of Health for the entire country (39.9% and 42% in 2006 and 2010, respectively). 20,21 Birth weight is a major determining factor of neonatal mortality, but does not explain its great variability.…”

Risk-adjusted/neuroprotective care services in the NICU: the elemental role of the neonatal therapist (OT, PT, SLP)

“…Given evidence-based findings regarding infant (and family) outcomes related to neuroprotective and developmentally supportive interventions in the NICU and the role of the NT, consideration around more adequate staffing of neonatal therapy must be addressed. Neonatal care has become technically advanced and requires a sufficient supply of specially trained professionals [46]. The rising number of preterm and multiple births makes it critical to recruit and retain sufficient and appropriate staff to provide quality of care and must include interdisciplinary staffing [46].…”

“…Neonatal care has become technically advanced and requires a sufficient supply of specially trained professionals [46]. The rising number of preterm and multiple births makes it critical to recruit and retain sufficient and appropriate staff to provide quality of care and must include interdisciplinary staffing [46]. A gap in the literature exists regarding staffing of NTs; however, the NANN RN NICU staffing position statement, includes the American Nurses Association consideration of other healthcare professionals in collaborative, interdisciplinary partnership as a core component of staffing the NICU [47, 48, p. 6].…”

Morbimortalidad de recién nacidos con menos de 1500 gramos asistidos en hospitales públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

“…Probablemente, para mejorar estos resultados se requiera determinación y difusión de prácticas cuyo beneficio ha sido ampliamente demostrado. [17][18][19] La mortalidad neonatal de los RNMBP en los hospitales de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires es superior a la de NEOCOSUR en todos los grupos de peso y edad gestacional, excepto en los de 1250-1500 g y 33-36 semanas, y es inferior al 39,9% en 2006 y al 42% en 2010, comunicados por el Ministerio de Salud para todo el país. 20,21 El peso del nacimiento es un determinante importante de la mortalidad neonatal, pero no explica sus grandes variaciones.…”