Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9733-722X

Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2024

Document Type

Problem/Project Report

Degree Type

OTD

College

School of Medicine

Department

Occupational Therapy

Committee Chair

Megan Martino

Committee Co-Chair

Kayleigh Nolan

Committee Member

Diana Davis

Committee Member

Heather Livengood

Abstract

As specialized healthcare professionals educated in developmental care, occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have a role in educating, coaching, and assessing the needs of infants, their families, and the staff in the NICU. These high-risk and medically fragile infants require specialized care that considers the incorporation of neurodevelopment, neurobehavioral regulation, sensory stimulation, and motor development through supportive and appropriate interventions. A project addressing these needs across 14 weeks was implemented as part of an Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) capstone experience at WVU Medicine Children’s in Morgantown, West Virginia. This project examined the results of the NICU staff's confidence, knowledge, and awareness after providing developmentally appropriate care for their infants before and after the educational program targeting the environment, bottle feedings, developmentally appropriate positioning, handling, and care, and family-centered care. Based on the surveys, the nurses’ scores trended downward after receiving education, however, this is likely due to the fact that they gained more awareness, confidence, and knowledge of what they didn’t know or felt as strong addressing as compared to the pre-test. Through observations, improvements have been made in the unit regarding awareness of environmental stimuli and the use of new developmental equipment by the nursing staff.

Download

Share

COinS