Discharge teaching

[Mithrah]

I really enjoy teaching the parents on how to care for their baby, but at the NICU I currently work for there are no specific things to teach them (like a check off sheet). Basically they watch a CPR video, go to a CPR class, taught to keep their baby on their back, and then out the door.

Also, teaching doesn't tend to get done until the day of discharge and our unit recognizes this is a problem, but never does anything about it. And then it gets more complicated when we need a Spanish interpreter.

How does your unit do discharge teaching? Do you have a check off sheet? My old job used one and I really wish I had that sheet. If only I had a copy! I am looking for a simple one page sheet if anyone has one. If you do, private message me and I'll give you a fax number to where you can fax it to me. :)

[LaNICUnurse]

How does your unit do discharge teaching? Do you have a check off sheet? My old job used one and I really wish I had that sheet. If only I had a copy! I am looking for a simple one page sheet if anyone has one. :)

Call your old unit and get them to fax, or send you a copy. That would probably be the best.

We do have one sheet, but we add additional ones as needed, depending on the teaching needed, and the difficulty of taking care of some infants.

[tracy6fan]

We tended to have the same problem with the "last day teaching" and found it to be extremely overwhelming for the parents. We've been working on it hard and have just added a "To Do" checklist for the parents. We put it on the cribs once the babies transition to a bassinette and the parents love the idea of knowing what they need to work on before discharge. We've also started ordering the home monitors and teaching a week or 2 in advance so the parents can practice with it when they come in.

Those 2 things alone are making a big difference in our process.

I forgot to add we use the language line when we need to, but it sure helps having several spanish speaking nurses in our unit to assign those patients to.

[wjf00]

Parent teaching is a major part of our care plan. Each item (Bulb syringe, temperature taking, baths, etc) needs to be documented. The expectation is teaching is ongoing from admit to discharge. Teaching and parent interaction needs to be documented every shift.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

We have a big check off list. It goes from the admission diagnosis, pain management, visitation right on thru to the last things to be taught. We have a program we use, Micromedex for most of our sheets. We have also adapted sheets from Oshner Hospital. Wisconsin also has a great site. We emailed these places and got permission to use their teaching tools. We have a packet for each family that has basic care sheets in it and we add to it. Lacation, Ot/PT, etc have to document on the teaching checkoff also.

[Lilnurse 03]

We have a check list that we use to do bedside teaching. We also have a discharge book that we give parents. In addition, we have a discharge class that is held once a month.

[slu_rn]

We have a form that is started the day they are admitted. On it are things that every parents is taught, baths, feedings, temps, bulb suctioning, etc (basic baby care) then each baby has a care plan that as thigns are added/removed the teaching sheet is updated. There are lots of blanks to fill out, each under it's own category. (ex: monitor or O2 under resp, ostomy care under GI, then med teaching and the drugs they're going home on) This sheet is (supposed) to be reviewed every day and as you talk to the parents about each issue, it is signed by the RN. I think the original form is 6 pages long then there are ones that you can add to it if the child is going to need lots of care.