Nursery/NICU linen changes

[first123]

Can you please share with me your hospitals policy on changing nursery/Nicu linens. Research is outdated.

Thanks

[Lyfling83]

Our policy was to change them every night at the 2000/2100 care time (optimally). And we have a huge NICU (115 bed). And also PRN of course. You know how some kiddos go through their sheets super quick! But it was always changed at least once per 24 hours. We used crib sheets that were made for us, mostly. Handmade giraffe sheets, bigger sheets for the cribs, and handmade pillowcases for the bassinets (or for the giraffe beds, if you run out of giraffe sheets). In a pinch we would just throw on a plain white pillowcase if we were out of handmade ones.

[Lyfling83]

Totally have to learn to change them one handed for your feeder/growers! Or change them when RT is there changing out the CPAP mask/prongs so they can lift and you can change. Or have parents lift while you change.

[Lyfling83]

Oh and learn to do them one handed because you'll be holding the baby in the other. I'm not sure that's in the policy, but it should be required learning. :-)

Totally have to learn to change them one handed for your feeder/growers! Or change them when RT is there changing out the CPAP mask/prongs so they can lift and you can change. Or have parents lift while you change.

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

Daily. We don't have a consistent time like we did at my old facility. Where I used to work, it was done with the weights at the first hands on after midnight. Here, It's whenever, but must be charted and done every day. It's part of our CLABSI prevention bundle.

[prmenrs, RN]

I always changed my babies linens sometime on the shift. And more often, as necessary. You know, blow-outs and power pukes. We used baby blankets, not sheets.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

We don't have a strict policy but we do baths 2x a week and that's a good time to change the linen. I also like to put down fresh linen and make sure the bed is super duper clean when my parents are holding STS with their babies. And then of course as needed if a baby spits up or whatever.

[LRN_RN]

We don't have a policy, but I change always with baths (ours are Q3 or PRN) and if I see visibly soiled linen. Or if parents are STS I'll do a quick change. I also like my kids to look matching and clean, so sometimes I'm obsessive and will just change it because I can. I'm NOC shift and more often than not I end up changing each of my kids by the end of my shift. We use blankets, not sheets. I also change my infants clothing (if they are able to be clothed) each night on my shift. I figure as a parent, I'd do that and I'd want to see that my infant was being cared for in this way too.

[tinybbynurse]

typically q24 hours with the weights, on nightshift. PRN as needed. of course there are sometimes exceptions to changing the linen depending on the baby's condition but that's the usual.