Information for parents

nursing student, but march of dimes has helped me alot with my patient education projects

this link is specific to parent resources for the NICU: http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/index_nicu.asp

We have a binder that we give the parents on the first day they visit called Tiny Steps Your special newborn. It includes a lengthy welcome and orientation as to who is who, a glossary of terms, and areas for personalized notes. It covers the normal tests and procedures, with a basic explaination of what things are. Covers nutrition, we are very into breast feeding and have an excellent breast feeding consultant. We start teaching asap and ask for the pediatricians name and really attempt to involve the parents in every aspect of care. It usually stays at the bedside, but the parents can take it home. It also covers hand washing, bathing, diapering, temp taking, immunizations. Very thorough. I actually have one I carry and refer to it often.

We have a booklet that we give parents... it contains orientation to NICU, medical terminology, etc. Also we have info that is geared more to the age of baby and its specific medical condition -- these are separate sheets that we add into a folder that we give the parents along with the booklet. Since we have individual rooms every room has a laminate "Parenting based on developmental needs of your newborn" and we encourage parents to read through it... We are working on promoting the march of dimes website as well as shareyourstory.org

We make sure the parents have been completely taught with all well-baby care long before their baby leaves the hospital, as well as specific care that their baby might need. We also give a whole binder of info right near the beginning of their stay and make sure they have gone over the info more than once before they leave so they are not overwhelmed the day of discharge.

It's really important to start discharge teaching right from the start--even with a tiny preemie, the mom can learn to take the temp and you can use that opportunity to discuss normal temperatures, advising visitors to wash their hands at home, stuff like that, so that when discharge does happen, the teaching can focus on car seat info and last minute feeding changes.

Dawn

We also provide an admission packet with a general "Welcome to NICU" booklet that discusses basic terminology, what you can expect, care team member descriptions, etc. Additionally, we have a storage room full of information sheets that we add to the packet (whatever pertains to the patient now or in the future)... PDA, jaundice, caffeine and AOP, IVH, sepsis, etc. and we can print medication information sheets from the online pharmacy.

As already noted... discharge starts at admission.