{"title":"Neonatal acuity tool-defined staffing ratios in a tertiary Australian neonatal intensive care unit","authors":"Adam Barnett, Tara M Crawford, Michael J Stark","doi":"10.1111/jpc.16635","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Aims</h3>\n \n <p>There is well-established data linking the adequacy of nurse staffing to patient outcomes. Evidence-based standards for staffing are therefore critical to drive improvements in clinical care. One such evidence-based approach is the use of patient acuity-based tools. The objective of this study is to determine the performance of a neonatal acuity tool in an Australian tertiary neonatal health-care setting, focusing on the classification of patient acuity and nursing:patient staffing ratios compared to current practice.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Acuity data were collected in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and special care baby unit (SCBU) over a 10-week period in 2023. Patient data were scored in the 16 domains at two time points (prior to morning and evening nursing shift changeover) for all admitted newborns.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>For ventilated newborns nursed with a nurse:patient staffing ratio of 1:1, 78% of scores were within the L4-high acuity (score ≥ 26) band, with the remaining scores within the L3-high acuity (18–25) band. For newborns on non-invasive respiratory support in NICU staffed 1:1, the proportion scoring within the L4 acuity band was higher in the nasal high-flow group compared to the nasal continuous positive airway pressure group (<i>P</i> = 0.032), an effect not seen for those nursed 1:2 in NICU or for those on nasal high-flow nursed in SCBU either 1:2 or 1:3.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\n \n <p>This study of how a neonatal acuity classification system compares with current nurse:patient staffing allocations in an Australian tertiary NICU, suggests refinements in staffing ratios for specific patient groups on respiratory support are possible.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":16648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of paediatrics and child health","volume":"60 10","pages":"544-548"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpc.16635","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of paediatrics and child health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.16635","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PEDIATRICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims
There is well-established data linking the adequacy of nurse staffing to patient outcomes. Evidence-based standards for staffing are therefore critical to drive improvements in clinical care. One such evidence-based approach is the use of patient acuity-based tools. The objective of this study is to determine the performance of a neonatal acuity tool in an Australian tertiary neonatal health-care setting, focusing on the classification of patient acuity and nursing:patient staffing ratios compared to current practice.
Methods
Acuity data were collected in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and special care baby unit (SCBU) over a 10-week period in 2023. Patient data were scored in the 16 domains at two time points (prior to morning and evening nursing shift changeover) for all admitted newborns.
Results
For ventilated newborns nursed with a nurse:patient staffing ratio of 1:1, 78% of scores were within the L4-high acuity (score ≥ 26) band, with the remaining scores within the L3-high acuity (18–25) band. For newborns on non-invasive respiratory support in NICU staffed 1:1, the proportion scoring within the L4 acuity band was higher in the nasal high-flow group compared to the nasal continuous positive airway pressure group (P = 0.032), an effect not seen for those nursed 1:2 in NICU or for those on nasal high-flow nursed in SCBU either 1:2 or 1:3.
Conclusion
This study of how a neonatal acuity classification system compares with current nurse:patient staffing allocations in an Australian tertiary NICU, suggests refinements in staffing ratios for specific patient groups on respiratory support are possible.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health publishes original research articles of scientific excellence in paediatrics and child health. Research Articles, Case Reports and Letters to the Editor are published, together with invited Reviews, Annotations, Editorial Comments and manuscripts of educational interest.