Newborn safety is an important issue that gets pushed aside in many hospitals in the US. Nurse staffing adequacy is crucial for infant care in hospitals. Such tragic incidences are preventable, and the work by Dr. Anderson and Kniper brings forth these dire consequences of inappropriate staffing. Besides contributing to academic debate, these articles point out the real effects of the careless attitude on newborn babies and their parents. Therefore, these efforts seek to redefine what’s important and highlight how vital nursing is in ensuring the safety of these young entrants.
Research by Dr. Anderson (2021) presented in the paper “Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse Resulting in Newborn Death in the United States,” clearly illustrates the need to address the issue of infant safety immediately. Unfortunately, some took place within the first week after birth and were referred to as sudden, unexpected postnatal collapse (SCUP). Dr. Anderson’s studies identified certain characteristics that were not associated with infants that died later on, implying the necessity of more focused efforts aimed at postnatal care during this period. Around 22% of SUPC deaths took place in the hospital context, suggesting important improvements in safe inpatient maternity care.
With their article titled “What a Catch: Safety Interventions for Reframing Newborn Falls and Drops,” Knipper et al. (2021) make a substantial contribution. A nurse initiated program that takes place in two maternity units with corrective actions following near miss occurrences. This method encompasses the solution and offers useful insight into what other maternity units can implement in similar situations. Preventing newborn falls or drops is as important as this project. The study supports an all-encompassing approach, emphasizing preventative measures, cooperation on benchmark practices, and protecting baby in hospitals.
Dr. Kathleen Rice Simpson is an experienced Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist who illustrates the real-world effects of understaffing on infants. For over 25 years now, while she has been working as a consultant for perinatal patient safety, she has seen the impact of avoidable harm that takes place in neonates (Anderson, et al., 2021). A doctor by the name of Dr. Simson narrates a very emotional case about a woman who had an unscheduled cesarean and was left in a situation where she was forced to carry her baby for many hours after surgery. She unknowingly falls asleep and then realizes her airway position is off because she knows her baby is not breathing anymore. According to Dr. Simpson, such tragedies can be prevented, and as a result, families and even healthcare professionals suffer emotionally during these occurrences.
Hospital safety of babies calls for sufficient nurse staffing; the professional organization’s recommendations point it out. These vital elements are as follows: the continuity of nursing presence at the patient’s bedside, the hourly rounds on mother-baby couples, and the respite nursery staffed by a registered nurse. It is also necessary to have a strong reporting system involving near-miss events as they provide the opportunity for continual improvement on safety regulations. For better delivery of care, patient assignments should involve three healthy mother-baby couples per registered nurse so that individual care is provided to them. Tailored assignments are still needed because some cases require a non-emergency level of nursing responsibility.
Finally, hospital newborn safety is a critical issue that needs serious consideration at this point. Adequate nurse staffing is not only a mere recommendation but rather an absolute necessity for averting such tragedies and safeguarding infants as well as their parents. Professional recommendations based on studies’ findings showing how preventable some tragedies would have been underlining the demand for a paradigm change in clinical practices. This, as we reflect on those heartbreaking scenes, calls into question advocating for raised awareness, policy changes, and commitment towards giving the appropriate care to these babies and their relatives.
References
Anderson, T. M., Ferres, J. M. L., Ramirez, J.-M., & Mitchell, E. A. (2021). Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse Resulting in Newborn Death in the United States. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, Publish Ahead of Print. https://doi.org/10.1097/nmc.0000000000000711
Knipper, N. P., DiCioccio, H. C., & Albert, N. M. (2021). What a Catch: Safety Intervention to Reframe Newborn Falls and Drops. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 46(3), 161–167. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMC.0000000000000708
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