title: The effectiveness of a standardised positioning tool and bedside education on the developmental positioning proficiency of NICU nurses.
abstract: In order to improve the developmental proficiency of neonatal intensive care unit nurses, a standardised infant positioning assessment tool and a bedside education programme were introduced to the registered nurses in a 46 bed level III neonatal intensive care unit in the western United States. A developmental positioning team collected pre-intervention positioning scores on 54 preterm infants. This was followed by a survey of the registered nurses beliefs and attitudes, the introduction of the standardised assessment tool and an informal education programme. Post-intervention positioning scores were collected on 55 preterm infants, and analysis of the data indicated there was a statistically significant change in mean positioning scores. Additionally, the registered nurses identified several barriers to the implementation of developmental positioning. This research indicates the use of a standardised infant positioning assessment tool and bedside education may be useful strategies for improving the developmental positioning proficiency of NICU nurses.
authors.affiliation: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA. Electronic address: Arlene.spilker@sjsu.edu.
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spilker
authors.affiliation: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000072222:Nurses, Pediatric / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Developmental positioning; Education; Neonatal intensive care unit; Registered nurse