title: Does the type of sleep surface influence infant wellbeing in the NICU?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether different mattress surfaces (standard vinyl-covered foam mattress [SFM] versus viscoelastic polyurethane mattress [VPM]) are associated with differences in nurses' perceptions of infant sleep/restfulness, nurses' assessment of infant pain, parents' perceptions of infant comfort/crying, infant weight, and vital signs among babies with birthweights <1,700 grams or gestational ages <35 weeks in a NICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experiment was conducted in which a control group of 40 babies admitted to the NICU over a 7-month period were placed on SFMs and an experimental group of 40 babies admitted in the next 7 months were placed on VPMs. Data were collected in 72 hours immediately following infant placement on the mattresses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between groups based on gender, gestational age, and birthweight. Babies in the SFM group were an average of 15 hours older when placed on the mattress and had lower Day 1 acuity. There were no differences between groups on nurses' perceptions of infant sleep/restfulness, nurses' assessment of infant pain, parents' perceptions of comfort/crying, and infant vital signs. Weight loss for babies in the VPM group was more than twice that of infants on the SFM; however, the loss was clinically within normal limits. Vital signs of babies in both groups were largely within normal ranges and perceptions of sleep/restfulness and comfort/crying levels were positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both mattresses seem to be effective for babies in the NICU. More data are needed on the potential relationships between the VPM mattress and neonatal weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Regina Stoltz is the Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY. She can be reached via e-mail at regina.stoltz@bhsi.com Rhonda Byrd is a Staff RN, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY. Anna Jeanine Hench is a Staff RN, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY. Tamara Slone is a Staff RN, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY. Dorothy Brockopp is Evidence Based Practice Consultant, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY and Professor Emeritus, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky. Krista Moe is Evidence Based Practice Consultant, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stoltz
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: Anna Jeanine
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hench
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slone
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brockopp
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moe
mesh_terms: D001512:Bedding and Linens / Q000592:standards*; D003448:Crying; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D012890:Sleep