Focused Efforts Improve Infection Rates in the NICU

Background: Northwest Community Hospital NICU obtained Level III status in December 2010 and utilized their existing partnership with a tertiary level children’s hospital to perform bedside surgeries. Primary Objectives: The primary objective was to establish a team of professionals to collaborate on the process of performing PDA ligations at the bedside. Prior to this, babies were transferred to a referral hospital for this procedure. Development of the Program: The Lead-Out team consisting of NICU staff nurses and leadership collaborated with the tertiary level hospital surgeons to identify what was needed to perform the procedure at the bedside at Northwest Community Hospital. Neonatal intensive care nurses and operating room nurses were cross-trained at the tertiary center and PDA ligations at the bedside were observed by both teams. Evidence-based policies were written. Communication with supporting departments outlined individual roles and needs. Focused Efforts Improve Infection Rates in the NICU Lisa McGee, RN, MSN, CCNS University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky