Safe Sleep Modeling in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Author

Barbara GarrisonFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-8-2020

Document Type

DNP Project

Project Team Faculty Member

Dr. Jacquelyn M. Clement

Keywords

safe sleep modeling, modeling in the NICU, safe sleep education, sids, suid, sudden infant death syndrome

Abstract

Abstract

Approximately 3,500 babies die each year due to sleep related deaths. The 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement clearly states that all health care workers should model safe sleep for infants less than 12 months of age prior to discharge from the hospital. However, at a large, Midwest, level IV, University-based neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), safe sleep was not being modeled. The purpose of this project was to increase adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations by implementing a unit-based quality improvement project focusing on policy development, staff education, and parent education.

Although starting out as a proposed change on only one unit, the strong acceptance at the Hospital Administration level and the System Board of Directors, the project has grown from a unit-based project to a System-wide project, and finally a state-wide initiative by the Missouri Division of Community and Public Health - to be their first state-wide newborn initiative. This change in implementation setting has delayed the original implementation. The Organization is planning a system-wide “kick-off” for the Safe Sleep Initiative March 1, 2020.

Recommended Citation

Garrison, Barbara, "Safe Sleep Modeling in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit" (2020). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 117.
https://spark.siue.edu/dnpprojects/117

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