Abstract
Problem: Bringing an infant home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can mean caring for a baby with multiple health care needs, or minimally, feeding and growth issues. The infant may require a regimented feeding schedule, medication administration, an apnea monitor, a feeding tube, home oxygen, and multiple follow-up appointments; not to mention potential lifelong complications. This situation may also be coupled with parental fears, lack of preparedness for discharge creating increased readmission to the hospital and decreased satisfaction with the discharge process from the NICU.|Methods: A non-experimental, descriptive exploratory study was completed using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Convenience sampling at a level III NICU was used to gather data. The inclusion criteria included previously hospitalized child in the NICU, recently discharged from the NICU, English speaking, parent is a competent adult, Minnesota resident over 18 years of age, parent is accessible by telephone, parent is willing to answer the needs assessment question by phone. All returned surveys were used, no identifiable information was used and responses to the questionnaire were confidential and anonymous. Approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Creighton University Institutional Review Board and Hospital Review Board via an exempt review process as no identifying information was collected from the respondents.|Results: Each parental response indicated that education regarding their infant was initiated within the first week after admission although majority of dismissal education was received within two days of discharge. The majority of information regarding discharge was consistent. Sixty-seven percent of patients were discharged with prescription medications, and all parents verbalized understanding of the drug indication, dosage and administration method. Lack of communication, disorganization and delay in dismissal procedures was evident. Nerves and apprehension were mentioned several times in responses.|Conclusion: As evidenced by stress and anxiety several families feel prior to discharge, the study reiterates the importance of initiating discharge education upon admission and continuing throughout the hospital stay. This will allow for a decrease in the amount of education received on the day of discharge and increase the parental preparedness in caring for the infant once at home. Improved communication and a discharge-planning tool may be utilized to create a smoother discharge process.