NICU Discharge Care Plan

Many infants who are discharged from the NICU require continued medical care at home. In the NICU at American Fork Hospital, there is no infant -specific care plan given to parents at discharge. The current protocol consists of a universal discharge packet containing generic information for every infant upon discharge. This increases parental anxiety and stress, which influences parent satisfaction scores.

NICU Discharge Care Plan Stacey Swapp, BSN Student, University of Utah College of Nursing Background ❖ Many infants who are discharged from the NICU require continued 2 medical care at home. ❖ In the NICU at American Fork Hospital, there is no infant - specific care plan given to parents at discharge. ❖ The current protocol consists of a universal discharge packet containing generic information for every infant upon discharge. ❖ This increases parental anxiety and stress, which influences 1,2,3 parent satisfaction scores. PICOT Question Among parents of NICU infants requiring homecare/DME after discharge, how does an infant plan of care compared with no plan of care affect parent satisfaction scores within the first 3 months following discharge? Significant Findings ❖ Evidence suggests a comprehensive, customizable infant discharge care plan will improve parent satisfaction 4 and patient outcomes. ❖ Of the components shown below, infant-specific care instructions are among the 4 most important. Intervention ❖ Best practice for NICU discharge dictates the implementation of a customizable infant discharge care 4 plan. ❖ The plan will provide parents with care instructions that are tailored to the 2,4 specific needs of their infant. ❖ Education for parents on how to provide medical care to their infant at 2,4 home will also be provided. Implementation Recommended Discharge Care Plan Components ❖ Interdisciplinary collaboration to 2 create discharge checklist and plan. ❖ In-service to gain cooperation among interdisciplinary team. ❖ Parent satisfaction survey within 3 months of discharge. References 1. Aagaard, H., Uhrenfeldt, L., Spliid, M. L., & Fegran, L. (2015). Parents' experiences of transition when their infants are discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit: A systematic review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 13(10), 123-132. https://doi.org/10.11124/jbisrir-2015-2287 2. Purdy, I. B., Craig, J. W., & Zeanah, P. (2015). NICU discharge planning and beyond: Recommendations for parent psychosocial support. Journal of Perinatology. 35(1), S24S28. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.146 3. Schecter, R., Pham, T., Hua, A., Spinazzola, R., Sonnenklar, J., Li, D., Papaioannou, H., & Milanaik, R. (2019). Prevalence and longevity of PTSD symptoms among parents of NICU infants analyzed across gestational age categories. Clinical Pediatrics, 59(2), 163-169. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922819892046 4. Seyedfarajollah, S., Nayeri, F., Niakan Kalhori, S. R., Ghazisaeedi, M., & Keikha, L. (2018). The framework of NICU-discharge plan system for preterm infants in Iran: Duties, components and capabilities. Acta Informatica Medica, 26(1), 46-50. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2018.26.46-50