Blending Pediatrics with postpartum

[rachael72]

Our hospital is blending our small pediatric unit into the postpartum/mother baby unit. I have searched high and low on-line for information/research on this topic. Does anybody have any links or information?

[klone, MSN, RN]

What kind of information are you seeking?

[rachael72]

I am looking for integration and infection prevention guidelines. Any recommendations, dealing with crosstraining reluctant staff, statistics, research results...

[llg, PhD, RN]

I doubt you will find much if you just look for things specific to your specific situation. The only hospitals that do that kind of combining of units are really small ones, usually in rural areas. Such hospitals are unlikely to do much research and publication about their practices.

You'll probably need to broaden your search … find related literature … and then apply it to your situation. (e.g. material on the infection control needs of post partum units … and other material on infection control for peds … and then do the combining yourself.)

You might also want to locate other hospitals that have that combo … and then open a direct discussion with them to find out how they do things. Whoever made the decision to combine those units should have known that it has been done before (and where) for them to suggest it.