Introduction
Many families feel overwhelmed by the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience. Although they long for the day when they can take their baby home, they may feel apprehensive and unprepared when that day finally arrives. Baby Steps to Home was created to standardize the discharge pathway and parent teaching that happens during the baby’s stay in the NICU. It is designed to provide parents with information appropriate for their baby’s condition and progress toward discharge.
Each topic is presented in two parts. The first section is written specifically for nurses but can be used by anyone on the NICU team. Current, evidence-based content is provided, along with references to consult for more information. The second section, written for parents, presents the content in easy-to-understand language that promotes consistent messaging between the parent and nurse sections. The parent-focused content discusses common issues and diagnoses parents may encounter while their baby is in the NICU, suggests questions to ask their baby’s provider, and provides practical information and tips parents will need now and after discharge.
Parents are essential to maximizing the long-term outcomes of NICU patients. This guide will be a useful tool in the education and preparation of parents for discharge, so that all parents of NICU babies feel prepared and ready to care for their babies at home.
Use
The parent-focused sections of Baby Steps to Home may be modified and printed so each unit can add their hospital’s logo and other specific directions or information before handing the information to a parent. No further permission is required for this use. All other format and use requests require written permission from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN).
The content of Baby Steps to Home may not be translated into another language without written consent from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN).
Contact Us
If you would like to submit comments or feedback about the site, please e-mail info@nann.org.
Acknowledgments
Baby Steps to Home was developed by NANN after need for its content emerged from discussions of the Preemie Health Coalition in 2007-2009, led by the American Academy of Pediatrics, March of Dimes, and NANN. The first edition was launched in 2013; an update of the first edition was launched in 2018.
Special Thanks
Special thanks are extended to the following individuals, whose leadership and foresight made this project possible:
- Robin Bissinger, PhD APRN NNP-BC FAAN
National Association of Neonatal Nurses - Jim Couto, MA
American Academy of Pediatrics - Judith S. Gooding
March of Dimes - Rebecca South, BSN RNC-NIC
National Association of Neonatal Nurses - Suzanne Staebler, DNP APRN NNP-BC FAANP FAAN
National Association of Neonatal Nurses - Dionne Wilson, CAE
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
Leaders
- Suzanne Staebler, DNP APRN NNP-BC FAANP FAAN, Project Director
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University
Atlanta, GA - Rebecca South, BSN RNC-NIC, Project Leader
Texas Health Resource Plano
Plano, TX
2018 Update Content Developers
- Gail Bagwell, DNP CCNS
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, OH - Bobby Bellflower, DNP NNP-BC
University of Tennessee Medical Group
Memphis, TN - Lindsey Canon, MSN RN RNC-NIC NEA-BC
Texas Health Resource Fort Worth
Fort Worth, TX - Mary Claire Connelly, BSN Student
Emory University
Atlanta, GA - Margaret Conway-Orgel, DNP NNP-BC
Medical University Of South Carolina
Charleston, SC - Juanita Davis, MS NNP-BC
Emory University School Of Nursing
Atlanta, GA - Stephanie Eidson, MSN RNC-NIC
Texas Health Resources
Fort Worth, TX - Sue Goddard, MBA BSN RNC-NIC
Children's Medical Center-Plano
Plano, TX - Donna Johnson, RN
Grady Hospital
Atlanta, GA - Karen McDonald, DNP NNP-BC
Mallinckrodt
Hampton, NJ - Veronica Schaedler, BSN RN IBCLC LCCE
Texas Health Resources Plano
Plano, TX - Patti Scott, DNP NNP-BC NPT-C
Mid Tennessee Neonatology Associates P.C.
Nashville, TN - Roxanne Stahl, MSN NNP-BC
Gateway Medical Center
Clarksville, TN - Ruth Snyder, NNP
Midatlantic Neonatal Associates
Morristown, NJ - Tracy Wasserburger, MSN NNP-BC
Campbell County Memorial Hospital
Gillette, WY - Bresney Crowell, MSN NNP-BC
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
1st Edition Content Content Developers
Special thanks to authors & reviewers participating in development of the 1st edition:
- Lynn Antonawich, MS RN
- Lindsey Canon, MSN RNC-NIC
- Allison Cate, MSN APN NNP-BC
- Margaret Conway-Orgel, MSN RNC NNP-BC
- Piper Davis, BSN RNC-NIC
- Taryn Edwards, MSN CRNP NNP-BC
- Lucia Giannattasio Hill, RN
- Susan Goddard, MBA BSN RN
- Heather Goodall, MSN RNC-NIC IBCLC
- Faye Hunte, MSN RNC-NIC
- Urmeka Jefferson, PhD RNC-LRN
- Michelle Kelly, RN
- Nancy Kraft, MSN APRN-BC NNP
- Katherine Lucas, DNP APRN NNP-BC
- Georgeanne Raines, MSN RN PNP-BC
- Veronica Schaedler, RN IBCLC LCCE
- Ruth Snyder, MSN APNC NNP-BC
- Pamela S. Spivey, MSN RN CCNS
- Tammy Wallace, DNP RN NNP-BC
- Jennifer Weber, MSN RNC-NIC
- Valerie Willis, MSN RN PNP-BC CNS-BC
1st Edition Expert Reviewers
- Nancy Burke, MSN ARNP RNC-NIC
- Deborah Campbell, MD FAAP
- Karen Kopischke, MS APRN NNP-BC
- Linda Merritt, MSN RNC
- Tracy Stoffle, MS RN
Special thanks to the Preemie Parent Alliance for providing review and feedback on content from the parent perspective.