Title : A web-based teaching module for the prevention of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse of the newborn
Abstract:
Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse (SUPC) is characterized by apnea, limpness, pallor, bradycardia, cyanosis, and cardiorespiratory failure in apparently healthy term newborns soon after birth, often during initial skin-to-skin contact, in the prone position, or with the first breastfeeding attempt. The etiology for this devastating clinical entity is not well understood, but maternal fatigue and/or distraction appear to play key roles. The objective of this poster presentation is to discuss a quality improvement project that was designed to educate clinicians and parents, in order to prevent SUPC cases. A task force spearheaded an educational program; using the words “pink and positioned” to teach staff how to educate parents about proper distraction-free positioning of their infant. Staff education consisted of poster presentations and lectures on maternity units. A video depicting a (simulated) SUPC case and two other videos showing an obstetrician and post-partum nurse counseling a new mother about SUPC-prevention were created, circulated internally, and later added to a mandatory web-based training module and also publications. Practice changes included more frequent post-natal assessment of the newborn and documentation of ‘Pink and Positioned’ into our Electronic Medical Record. Responses from 254 nurses and patient care technicians (PCTs) to a pre-and post- test questionnaire, suggest that after taking the module, they were more knowledgeable and reported feeling more comfortable teaching parents about SUPC prevention. We will assess retention of knowledge at 6 months post-SUPC education. We will track SUPC cases and near misses throughout our hospital system, and we anticipate that, as a result of this comprehensive education, SUPC cases will be prevented.
Audience Take Away:
Neonatal nurses, Obstetric/Maternity Nurses, Pediatric nurses, Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Educators and Clinical Specialists can share this information with parents of newborns. Ideally SUPC-prevention should be taught antenatally and reinforced post-delivery in the labor/delivery unit, and later in the post-partum area.
- Many nurses and physicians are unaware of SUPC, therefore nurses who attend this session will be able to share their new knowledge with professional colleagues including physicians, nurses, lactation consultants and specialists, dieticians and other clinicians who care for newborns.
- Nurses who attend this presentation may become motivated to spear-head a similar training program, or other programs for the purpose of SUPC prevention.
- Nurses, especially faculty, who attend this poster presentation, will be able to conduct their own research. They may become interested in replicating studies that will be presented. Also, as described above, they may choose to implement a new training program for staff and measure outcomes post-implementation. Nurses, especially educators and lactation consultants/specialists, can also use the information they learn to teach nursing students, novice nurses, and other clinicians about the importance of proper positioning during breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact so that SUPC can be prevented. The teaching must be conducted in a positive manner that will encourage mothers to breastfeed and hold their babies skin-to-skin, while emphasizing safe positioning for the infant.
