title: Safe Sleep for Hospitalized Infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published expanded safe sleep guidelines in 2011.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this quality improvement project was to promote the AAP safe sleep recommendations and provide appropriate role modeling of these recommendations for hemodynamically stable infants throughout their hospital stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  A safe sleep educational initiative for parents and hospital staff included an observation of infant sleep practice before and after the initiative and a pre- and posteducation questionnaire of nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and opinions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Magnet-designated urban hospital that included 72 pediatric beds, a 60-bed NICU, and 41 mother-baby beds; and 658 pediatric and obstetric nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred percent of nurses received the educational intervention. Observations noted an improvement from 70% to 90% (p< 0.01) of infants in a safe sleep position when comparing pre- and postintervention results. There were some improvements in knowledge of and agreement with the AAP guidelines after the educational intervention, but not as much as expected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was inconsistency between nursing knowledge and practice about safe infant sleep. Nurses were aware of the AAP recommendations, but it took time to achieve close to full compliance in changing clinical practice. Observation was an important part of this initiative to reinforce knowledge and role model best practice for parents.
authors.affiliation: Sherri L. McMullen is an Assistant Professor at College of Nursing & Research Consultant, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, and Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital; University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. She can be reached via e-mail at McMulleS@Upstate.edu Irene Dutko Fioravanti is a Pediatric Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital; University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Kristen Brown is a Neonatal Advanced Practice RN, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital; University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Mary G. Carey is an Associate Director of the Clinical Nursing Research Center, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital; University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Sherri L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McMullen
authors.forename: Irene Dutko
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Fioravanti
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000193:education; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012890:Sleep; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016683:Supine Position; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult