An Investigation of the Effect of the Designed Program of Nurses' Participation on the Frequency of Missed Nursing Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Missed nursing care is one of the indicators of nursing care quality and can result in fatal and permanent disabilities, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) due to the unique needs of newborns. Therefore, it is crucial to manage these errors, especially in NICU. The purpose of this study was to investigate the collaborative and participatory program on the frequency of missed nursing care.

Method: The present study was interventional and quasi-experimental. Using a missed nursing care questionnaire, the researcher investigated all types of care errors for two months in the NICU. Then, a care error management program was developed and implemented in the NICU with the help of personnel participation for six months. Using the same questionnaire, the impact of the interventions was assessed at the conclusion.

Results: According to the study's conclusions, the highest improvement rates were found in the care categories of teaching parents about home care, preparing parents for discharge, prescribing PRN medications for a maximum of 15 minutes, and comprehensive physical examinations. In addition, unfortunately, some services, such as pain management using both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological methods, and the effectiveness of medications 30 to 60 minutes after the prescription, did not improve despite the interventions that were carried out.

Discussion and Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, it is recommended that a participatory error management program be developed with the help of the involved group and the support of the hospital's senior and executive management team to reduce errors, particularly nursing care errors.