Transitioning to Couplet Care

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Purpose for the Program By sharing our challenges, adjustments, and successes, at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, we hope to encourage other hospitals to implement the evidence‐based practice of couplet care. Proposed Change To utilize best practice in the nursing care of mothers and newborns while increasing staff teamwork, nurse satisfaction, and patient satisfaction. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation To transition from traditional maternity care to couplet care, a Family Centered Care Committee (FCC) of staff nurses, physicians, and nursing leaders was created in March 2013. This multidiscipline committee was a venue where common misconceptions, resistance, and patient/employee satisfaction were discussed as well as how to change a culture based on history and tradition. Also discussed were the evidence‐based research and best practices currently used in maternity care. A plan for providing staff with current research, didactic education, assessment/care classes, and cross training was devised and implemented by the team. Surveys for the staff were given at several intervals during the transition to keep staff engaged and part of the change process. Since implementation in April 2014, patient satisfaction has increased, and there also has been a slight increase in employee satisfaction. This is still a project in continuous process improvement. More surveys will be distributed to staff in September 2014, December 2014, February 2015, and April 2015 to gauge staff satisfaction and feedback for improvement with the change to couplet care. Transitioning to couplet care demands a change in practice for the nursing staff and physicians. By implementing couplet care, exposure of frailties and obstacles were successfully addressed and have been identified and treated. Implications for Nursing Practice The transition to couplet care from traditional maternity care can be fraught with challenges. However, if proper planning and education are undertaken, couplet care that is rewarding to staff and patients can be achieved. Couplet care has been shown to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates, decrease newborn admissions to higher level care, and increase patient satisfaction. By sharing our challenges, adjustments, and successes, at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, we hope to encourage other hospitals to implement the evidence‐based practice of couplet care. To utilize best practice in the nursing care of mothers and newborns while increasing staff teamwork, nurse satisfaction, and patient satisfaction. To transition from traditional maternity care to couplet care, a Family Centered Care Committee (FCC) of staff nurses, physicians, and nursing leaders was created in March 2013. This multidiscipline committee was a venue where common misconceptions, resistance, and patient/employee satisfaction were discussed as well as how to change a culture based on history and tradition. Also discussed were the evidence‐based research and best practices currently used in maternity care. A plan for providing staff with current research, didactic education, assessment/care classes, and cross training was devised and implemented by the team. Surveys for the staff were given at several intervals during the transition to keep staff engaged and part of the change process. Since implementation in April 2014, patient satisfaction has increased, and there also has been a slight increase in employee satisfaction. This is still a project in continuous process improvement. More surveys will be distributed to staff in September 2014, December 2014, February 2015, and April 2015 to gauge staff satisfaction and feedback for improvement with the change to couplet care. Transitioning to couplet care demands a change in practice for the nursing staff and physicians. By implementing couplet care, exposure of frailties and obstacles were successfully addressed and have been identified and treated. The transition to couplet care from traditional maternity care can be fraught with challenges. However, if proper planning and education are undertaken, couplet care that is rewarding to staff and patients can be achieved. Couplet care has been shown to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates, decrease newborn admissions to higher level care, and increase patient satisfaction.