Format of Parent Education Material Preferred by New Mothers.

A descriptive cohort study to determine new mothers' preferred modality for educational materials, and if the format impacted the mothers' perception of an evidenced-based practice safe sleep program. The sample included new mothers anticipating discharge from a mother-baby unit with their newborn. Participants responded to a four-item survey administered by a research assistant. Respondents' self-reported preferred format for patient education was technology-based materials in both cohorts. The video teaching material as compared with the paper handout was rated significantly higher by participants. Modalities of patient education in health care organizations need to be consistent with the changing ways people are learning and accessing information in their everyday life.

The Impact of a Mindfulness Intervention for Nurse Managers.

PURPOSE: To examine the impact of a mindfulness intervention on nurse managers in an acute care hospital. DESIGN: A pre/post intervention design with three data collection points: prior to, at the conclusion of, and at 3 months following the intervention. METHOD: A survey to measure the impact of a mindfulness workshops on nurse managers' perception of professional quality of life, burnout, and perceived wellness. FINDINGS: There were significant changes in the scores on the compassion satisfaction (T-1 mean 3.9, T-2 mean 4.5, p = .002) and burnout subscales (T-1 mean 3.4, T-2 mean 2.8, p = .016) of the Professional Quality of Life scale, and on personal burnout (T-1 mean 4.2, T-2 mean 3.8, p = .023) and work-related burnout (T-1 mean 4.0, T-2 mean 3.5, p = .029) on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory scale, following the mindfulness intervention. The 3-month follow-up scores on compassion satisfaction were higher but not statistically significant ( p = .810). Scores on the burnout scales, while lower than the preintervention levels, were higher at the 3-month follow-up than immediately following the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that mindfulness practices need to be reinforced. Without continuous reinforcement, it may become a self-care practice moved to the bottom of the list of things to be done among the activities of a busy day.

When a Baby Is Sent Away: Evidence to Support Best Practice After Neonatal Transport.

Every day neonates are transported from the birth hospital to a tertiary neonatal care center. Separation of mother and neonate in the hours immediately following birth interrupts the bonding process and can have long-term implications for the mother-child relationship. This article synthesizes the literature focused on mothers' experiences with a neonate being transported to a tertiary NICU and identifies evidence-based practices specific to these situations.

Factors That Influence Parents' Adherence to Safe Sleep Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: To explore factors that influence parental behaviors related to newborn sleep positions and environments in the home after hospital discharge. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative study conducted by telephone. SETTING: A 290-bed academic teaching hospital in an urban setting with a Level 3 perinatal center and approximately 4,500 births per year. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N = 60) were recruited from the patient population of the mother-baby unit. All participants were scheduled to be discharged simultaneously with their newborns. METHODS: Qualitative interviews with grand tour-style questions were conducted by telephone. An inductive analysis process was used to identify themes and meaning. RESULTS: Participants described three consistent factors that influenced how the newborn slept at home. The most frequently mentioned influence was Other People followed by Nobody/No One and Images from sources such as books, pictures, television, and the Internet. CONCLUSION: New parents need education about the rationale for the safe sleep guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as well as knowledge of the potential harm of behaviors such as bed sharing and prone or side-lying positions for sleeping. The images to which parents are exposed send mixed messages. Health care professionals should portray safe sleep for infants in media, marketing materials, and other graphic representations. Nurses should help parents understand the AAP's recommendations for safe sleep position and environment for infants so that they can become advocates for their newborns' well-being.

Care of the Neonate on Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: A Bedside Guide.

Respiratory distress continues to be a major cause of neonatal morbidity. Current neonatal practice recommends the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) in the immediate resuscitation and continued support of neonates of all gestations with clinical manifestations of respiratory distress. Despite the many short- and long-term benefits of nCPAP, many neonatal care units have met resistance in its routine use. Although there have been numerous recent publications investigating the use and outcomes of various modes of nCPAP delivery, surfactant administration, mechanical ventilation, and other forms of noninvasive respiratory support (high-flow nasal cannula, nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation), there has been a relative lack of publications addressing the practical bedside care of infants managed on nCPAP. Effective use of nCPAP requires a coordinated interprofessional team approach, ongoing assessment of the neonate, troubleshooting the nCPAP circuit, and parent education.

Using a K-W-L Chart to Bridge the Theory-Practice Gap.

As nursing is a practice discipline, theory and practice cannot be separated. Yet nursing education is traditionally divided into two components: classroom or theory-based learning and clinical or practice-based learning. The theory-practice gap is one of the most significant issues in nursing today, given the emphasis on evidence-based practice. This article describes the use of a K-W-L chart as an approach to bridge the theory-practice gap and encourage students to become self-directed and take ownership of their knowledge.

Intraamniotic Infection and the Term Neonate.

Intraamniotic infection (IAI) may occur when the amniotic membranes are ruptured >18 hours prior to birth. The term neonate is at risk for early onset sepsis. This article describes the pathophysiology of IAI and the role of the mother-baby nurse during the anticipated birth and the ongoing assessment of the neonate.

The Infant Born to a Woman with Gestational Diabetes.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance with onset during pregnancy. During pregnancy, women with GDM develop insulin resistance, which results in altered glucose tolerance. As a result, there are frequent episodes of hyperglycemia and high levels of circulating amino acids, increasing the transfer of nutrients to the fetus. This article discusses the role of the mother-baby nursing in the care of neonates born to women with gestational diabetes.

The Risks Associated with Red Blood Cell Transfusion: Implications for Critical Care Practice.

This systematic literature review informs the clinician caring for the critically ill patient of the risks associated with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Data were extracted from publications between 2008 and 2016 and were reviewed to determine their usefulness in providing evidence associated with the risk of receiving an RBC transfusion. They reveal that this intervention may exacerbate certain clinical conditions and increase mortality and morbidity rates. Further scientific study is needed to better inform clinical practitioners about the inherent risks and benefits associated with the common clinical intervention of RBC transfusion in the critically ill patient.

Partnering for Evidence-Based Practice.

This column describes an academic service partnership to promote evidence-based practice.

Simulation as Part of Discharge Teaching for Parents of Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Simulation has become accepted as a method to increase confidence among healthcare professionals. We felt simulation might have similar benefits for parents of babies about to be discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit. PURPOSE: We developed the Neonatal Home Environment Learning Program to promote parental confidence in anticipation of their infant's discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: This evaluation study was conducted with 15 mother/father dyads. Each participant recorded a self-perceived confidence score before and after the simulation experience. Participants also completed a program evaluation and participated in a debriefing session. Confidence scores (pre- and postsimulation) and evaluation scores were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Responses from the debriefing sessions were analyzed using descriptive phenomenology. RESULTS: Parents rated the simulation experience highly. During debriefings, parents shared that the simulation made them feel more prepared. Two themes emerged from the debriefing data: doing it alone was different than I expected and feeling more confident. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A simulation experience for parents helps to ensure a positive transition to home and safe, effective care after discharge of the infant.

Preeclampsia and Care of the Newborn.

Preeclampsia is one of the most common complications in the last half of pregnancy. Mother-baby nurses are often present at the birth to provide neonatal care as well as ongoing care during the first days of life. This article discusses the implications of preeclampsia for the neonate and the role of the mother-baby nurse in the care of these infants.

Idea to Publication: Sharing Your Clinical Innovations.

Nurses are actively involved in the development of innovative practice projects and in the development of evidence-based guidelines. But rarely are the ideas of nurses and clinical leaders shared in professional publications. This column discusses the importance of sharing one's work through publication and provides strategies to get started.

A Dedicated Education Unit for Maternal-Newborn Nursing Clinical Education.

Designing a quality maternal-newborn clinical practice experience for undergraduate nursing students is often challenging. A dedicated education unit (DEU) is a partnership model of clinical education in which students partner with a designated unit-based nurse in providing nursing care within a typical patient care assignment. This article describes the experience of implementing a DEU in a junior level (third year) nursing practice course in a bachelor of science in nursing program curriculum. A DEU model is a perfect fit for maternal-newborn clinical learning experiences and provides a win-win outcome for academic and clinical partners as well as safe patient care. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2015.12.005.

Quality Appraisal: Part I.

Quality appraisal is an essential step in the evidence-based practice process. This column focuses on designating the level of evidence of the scientific research.

Quality Appraisal: Part II.

Quality appraisal is an essential step in the evidence-based practice process. This column focuses on evaluating the quality of the individual study and its applicability to practice.

An evidence-based safe sleep teaching program.

This column describes the experience of the units practice council in developing an evidence-based practice teaching program focused on safe sleep for newborn infants.

Preparing for NICU discharge: mothers' concerns.

PURPOSE: To quantify mothers' concerns in anticipation of their infant's discharge from the NICU. DESIGN: An exploratory, cross-sectional survey design was used. SAMPLE: A convenience sample of 150 mothers. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: The focus was the mothers' concerns about their infant's impending discharge. RESULTS: The mothers expressed confidence in their ability as a caregiver but expressed concern about being tired, the need for readmission to the hospital, and missing a change in the infant's conditions.

Five years later: are accelerated, second-degree program graduates still in the workforce?

This retrospective study explores the work activities of graduates from an accelerated, second-degree BSN program. There is documented growth in the number of accelerated, second-degree programs and the number of graduates from these programs. However, there are no published studies of whether or not these graduates are members of the workforce 5 years following graduation. This retrospective study found that the majority of the graduates are employed in nursing, and a large percentage have earned or are pursuing advanced degrees in nursing.