Here are just a few ways to turn your Neuroprotective Ideas into Actions!

Ideas:

  1. Increase the number staff members competent and confident in neonatal massage
  2. Increase the families educated on the benefits of techniques of neonatal massage
  3. Implement a unit wide massage program
  4. Introduce the use of oil
  5. Increase the frequency of massages provided to babies

Actions

  1. Attend NTMC individually or with core group of staff to obtain required knowledge and skill for massage in the NICU and then teach other staff, parents, create program in your NICU, and access references and resources to support this program

Measurements/Audits

  1. Pre/post number of babies massaged in one month
  2. Pre/post number of families educated in one month
  3. Pre/post parent satisfaction scores with neonatal massage
  4. Pre/post Finnegan scores for NAS babies
  5. Pre/post amount of medications required for NAS babies

Ideas:

  1. Increase the number of babies held skin-to-skin
  2. Increase the length of time babies are held skin-to-skin
  3. Increase the frequency of skin-to-skin holding
  4. Improve staff and families’ comfort of standing transfers
  5. Improve parental comfort and confidence with holding
  6. Improve staff knowledge and competence with skin-to-skin holding

Actions

  1. Purchase skin-to-skin holding DVDs and organize viewing
  2. License skin-to-skin videos for 24/7 viewing for parents and Healthcare providers
  3. Attend NTMC to become competent in transfers.
  4. Provide educational in-service for staff regarding skin-to-skin holding
  5. Obtain customized education by Creative Therapy Consultants for all NICU staff with hands-on competency check off provided
  6. Make or purchase skin-to-skin wraps for improved comfort and safety
  7. Celebrate International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day
  8. Provide resources to parents (books, DVDs, etc) to increase their comfort and time holding their baby
  9. Purchase reclining skin-to-skin chairs
  10. Apply for a Grant to fund any of the previously mentioned items

Measurements/Audits

  1. Pre/post hours or frequency of skin-to-skinholding per baby/week
  2. Pre/post staff knowledge and/or confidence scores
  3. Pre/post parent satisfaction scores with skin-to-skin
  4. Pre/post staff competency checklist

Ideas:

  1. Seminars & WorkshopsIncrease the number of babies handled & positioned with flexion, containment, alignment and comfort
  2. Increase the use of ventral support with all caregiving
  3. Introduce or update the use developmentally supportive products in your unit
  4. Improve the appropriate use of developmentally supportive products

Actions

  1. Attend NTMC individually or with core group of staff to obtain required knowledge and skill for developmentally supportive handling & positioning using commercially available products
  2. Use the Infant Positioning Assessment Tool to objectively evaluate your staff’s positioning
  3. Apply for a Grant & purchase developmentally supportive products
  4. Provide an educational in-service for staff demonstrating developmentally supportive handling & product use

Measurements/Audits

  1. Pre/post number of babies positioned with flexion, containment, alignment, and comfort
  2. Pre/post number of babies appropriate positioned in developmentally supportive equipment
  3. Pre/post parent satisfaction scores with handling & positioning