Date on Paper

7-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Paper

Degree Name

D.N.P.

Department

Nursing

Committee Chair

Baker, Leann

Committee Member

Knott, Kimberly

Author's Keywords

safe sleep; SUIDS; SIDS; neonatal intensive care unit; quality improvement; NICU nurse

Abstract

Abstract

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS) is the leading cause of infant death. There is literature stating nursing compliance with safe sleep modeling in the hospital is a concern. In 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their safe sleep guidelines which include the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The national average rate of SUIDS is 94.8 deaths per 100,000 live births (CDC, 2024). In Kentucky the rate is higher than that at a rate of 128.4 deaths due to SUID per 100,000 live births (CDC, 2024). The purpose of this project was to educate nursing staff, with the goal of increasing nursing safe sleep bundle compliance in the NICU by 10%. This project was developed by following the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice in a large Level IV NICU. The project was implemented over a period of 14 weeks. Nursing staff demographic data was collected and safe sleep knowledge assessed at the beginning and end of the project. Current evidence-based education was then provided to nursing staff, followed by weekly random crib audits. At the completion of the project, post-implementation knowledge was assessed. Prior to project implementation, safe sleep bundle compliance was 81.45%. As a result of this project, compliance increased to 89.82%, which is a 10.28% increase. By providing education on updated AAP safe sleep guidelines and providing staff with weekly safe sleep bundle rates, neonatal patients and their caregivers benefit by reducing the risks of SUIDS after discharge.

Keywords: safe sleep, SUIDS, SIDS, neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, quality improvement, safe sleep bundle, NICU nurse

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