Search

The purpose of this study was to determine whether modifying care to reduce stressors in the neonatal intensive care unit and support infant development affected physiological, motor, and behavioral state organization. Twenty-one infants weighing less than 1501 g were studied prior to a nursing staff-training program (control) and 24 infants were studied posttraining (study). Nurses were taught to lower environmental stress, reduce procedural stress, and facilitate motor and sleep-wake organization. Oxygen saturation, motor activity, posture, and sleep-wake states were measured biweekly during routine care. Study infants showed higher oxygen saturation levels, fewer disorganized and jerky movements, more flexor movements, more flexed posture, and more alert-wakefulness than controls. Results suggest that this approach to care may have potential to improve behavioral organization during the preterm period.

Numerous aspects of the intensive care environment are stressful for low birth weight infants and may play a role in adverse developmental and behavioral outcome. The purpose of this study was to determine whether staff education in care protocols designed to make the environment less stressful and thereby support the infant's development would improve short-term outcomes. Twenty-one infants (less than 1,501 gms) were studied during the preeducation period and 24 infants were studied following staff education. The educational program successfully altered nursing care. Experimental infants had more optimal respiratory and feeding status, lower levels of morbidity, shorter hospitalization, and improved behavioral organization.