Development and Validation of Simulation-Based Procedural Checklists for Evaluation of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Performance.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) procedural competence is essential. Procedural simulation provides opportunity to practice high-risk, low-frequency procedures and helps improve skill retention. A formal procedural simulation experience was created in an attempt to provide sufficient experience for NNPs. While preparing for the simulation experience, the group recognized the lack of validated competency metrics for most neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) procedures. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to create and validate procedural checklists measuring competence of NNPs participating in simulated performance of 9 high-risk NICU procedures. METHODS: IRB approval was obtained and NNPs agreed to data collection. A self and peer assessment tool was developed and distributed to NNPs, nurses, and neonatologists to gather a baseline perception of procedural competency. Procedural checklists were then developed to measure/assess individual skills against a standard. Benchmark videos were created to demonstrate the standard approach to procedural performance. Each procedural skill performed by the NNP participant was scored by 3 individual evaluators: once in real time and twice by video recording analysis. FINDINGS/RESULTS: A Cronbach α was used to measure the reliability and validity of the procedural checklists. Comparison was made between live grading and video-based grading scores using analysis of variance. Difference between grading modalities was less than 3% and nonsignificant for 8 of 9 procedures. No significant difference was found between individual graders for any of the skills being evaluated and suggested high interrater reliability of the checklists. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Objective, standardized procedural checklists are valid tools to evaluate NNP procedural skills in simulation. Procedural simulation experiences help strengthen skills, improve performance, and possibly improve patient outcomes.

Daily Enteral DHA Supplementation Alleviates Deficiency in Premature Infants.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid (FA) important for health and neurodevelopment. Premature infants are at risk of DHA deficiency and circulating levels directly correlate with health outcomes. Most supplementation strategies have focused on increasing DHA content in mother's milk or infant formula. However, extremely premature infants may not reach full feedings for weeks and commercially available parenteral lipid emulsions do not contain preformed DHA, so blood levels decline rapidly after birth. Our objective was to develop a DHA supplementation strategy to overcome these barriers. This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial determined feasibility, tolerability and efficacy of daily enteral DHA supplementation (50 mg/day) in addition to standard nutrition for preterm infants (24-34 weeks gestational age) beginning in the first week of life. Blood FA levels were analyzed at baseline, full feedings and near discharge in DHA (n = 31) or placebo supplemented (n = 29) preterm infants. Term peers (n = 30) were analyzed for comparison. Preterm infants had lower baseline DHA levels (p < 0.0001). Those receiving DHA had a progressive increase in circulating DHA over time (from 3.33 to 4.09 wt% or 2.88 to 3.55 mol%, p < 0.0001) while placebo-supplemented infants (receiving standard neonatal nutrition) had no increase over time (from 3.35 to 3.32 wt% or 2.91 to 2.87 mol%). Although levels increased with additional DHA supplementation, preterm infants still had lower blood DHA levels than term peers (4.97 wt% or 4.31 mol%) at discharge (p = 0.0002). No differences in adverse events were observed between the groups. Overall, daily enteral DHA supplementation is feasible and alleviates deficiency in premature infants.

What is the relationship between gestational age and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) levels?

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are increasingly transferred from mother to fetus late in pregnancy. Infants born before this transfer is complete are at risk for deficiency. This study determines the relationship between gestational age (GA) and circulating LCPUFA levels to better understand the unique needs of premature infants born at various GAs. Whole blood was collected within the first 7 days of life from 60 preterm (≤34 weeks GA) and 30 term infants (≥38 weeks GA) and FA levels were analyzed. Since concurrent intravenous lipid emulsion can skew composition data, blood LCPUFA concentrations were also measured. Levels were compared among groups, and linear regression models were used to examine the association between FA composition and GA. Preterm infants had significantly lower DHA and ARA levels than term peers, and whether assessed as concentrations or compositions, both directly correlated with GA (p<0.0001). Moreover, FA comparisons suggest that premature infants have impaired synthesis of LCPUFAs from precursors and may require preformed DHA and ARA. This study confirms that essential FA status is strongly related to GA, and that those babies born the earliest are at the greatest risk of LCPUFA deficiency.

Comparison of the Sensormedics 3100A and Bronchotron transporter in a neonatal piglet ARDS model.

The Sensormedics 3100A (Cardinal Health, Dublin, OH) (HFOV) and the Bronchotron (Percussionaire, Sandpoint, ID) (HFPV) are high-frequency ventilation devices used to support neonatal respiratory failure; however, a comparison of the devices, with respect to gas exchange at similar ventilator settings, has not been previously studied. Thus, we compared the ability of HFOV to that of HFPV to provide oxygenation and ventilation during acute lung injury in a newborn animal model. Using a saline lung lavage model, 12 neonatal piglets were randomized to initial support with either the HFOV or HFPV with settings adjusted to achieve PaCO2 of 45-60 mmHg. After stabilization, ventilator settings and arterial blood gases were serially recorded for 30 min. Animals were then crossed over to the alternative device set to deliver the same V(t), MAP, and F for an additional 30 min with the same parameters recorded. We found that the DeltaP needed to generate adequate V(t) on HFPV (35 +/- 7 cm H2O) trended higher versus HFOV (31 +/- 7 cm H2O P = 0.09) when the devices were matched for V(t), F, and MAP. No significant differences in ventilation (PaCO(2) = 50 +/- 10.7 mmHg vs. 46 +/- 10 mmHg, P = 0.22) or oxygenation (PaO2 = 150 +/- 76 mmHg vs. 149 +/- 107 mmHg, P = 0.57) between the devices were found. We conclude that HFPV ventilates and oxygenates as well as HFOV at equivalent ventilator settings. HFPV may require larger DeltaP's to generate equivalent V(t).