Developmentally supportive care in a neonatal intensive care unit: a research utilization project.
OBJECTIVE
To implement three aspects of developmental care: lower noise levels, decreased light levels, and flexed, midline positioning.


METHODS
Research utilization project. The developmental care interventions were implemented on a daily basis for two hours of "quiet time" during each eight-hour shift.


METHODS
49 infants with mean gestational ages of 35.1 +/- 3.2 weeks and mean weights of 2,107 +/- 464 gm.


METHODS
Noise levels, light levels, and flexed midline positioning.


RESULTS
Mean light levels and mean noise levels decreased during "quiet time" on all three shifts during the project. Optimal positioning was achieved 78 percent of the time during the project period observations.
Gray
K
K
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Oakland, CA 94611-5693, USA.
Dostal
S
S
Ternullo-Retta
C
C
Armstrong
M A
MA
D002657:Child Development; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D004779:Environment Design; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008029:Lighting / Q000009:adverse effects; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D011187:Posture