NICU Evacuation Training and Disaster Preparedness

Abstract

To discuss the NICU nurses' knowledge of roles and responsibilities in neonatal evacuation procedures; to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention adapted from core competencies and toolkits to increase awareness and knowledge of neonatal evacuation procedures; and to identify possible areas and opportunities to improve communication, resources, and training related to NICU evacuation. Quality improvement educational intervention. A 377-bed medical center with a 12-bed NICU located in Mission Hills, Southern California. Twenty-six neonatal nurses who provide care to neonates in the acute care setting of the NICU. Pretesting/posttesting to determine whether the educational intervention increased participants’ knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions on the evacuation process of inpatient, hospitalized neonates as part of NICU disaster preparedness. Increased knowledge (based upon responses to a 10-item knowledge questionnaire, d = 2.37) and self-efficacy (based upon responses to a 4-item questionnaire, d = 1.56). The NICU educational course was the first step in the revision of the current NICU infant evacuation policy and in the development of a larger quality improvement program for NICU disaster preparedness. Disaster planning and preparedness components are being added to the unit policy and hospital emergency operations plan. The task force developed for this project is now an appointed, on-going, interprofessional, multifacility committee, the purpose of which is to present findings and proposed solutions on NICU disaster preparedness and emergency management issues to hospital and regional disaster preparedness administrators.