A Standardized Web-based Nursing Curriculum on Safe Infant Sleep Practices – A Vermont Statewide Initiative

Background/Purpose: In Vermont and across the country, infants continue to die from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS), which in most cases is preventable. Best practice recommendations to safe infant sleep education are available; however, ensuring dissemination of this new information to parents has been challenging. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to develop an evidence web-based nursing curriculum on safe infant sleep practices for registered nurses working in Vermont community birthing hospitals. Methods: Current literature on safe infant sleep practices, adult learning principles and nursing education strategies were incorporated into the development of an evidence web-based nursing curriculum on safe infant sleep. Two nurse managers from birthing hospitals in Vermont participated in the pilot testing. Pre and post-test questions were beta-tested by neonatal content experts. Continuous process improvement methods utilized three focus groups to pilot test the nursing curriculum with key stakeholders that allowed for continuous refinement. Results: An evidence web-based, nursing curriculum was developed. Post survey data demonstrated participants were satisfied with ease of use, content, and would recommend using the curriculum for annual nurse competency. Conclusion: This online learning module demonstrates an evidence-based method to disseminate safe infant sleep education to registered nurses working in Vermont community birthing hospitals. Implications for practice of this learning module include annual competency education for registered nurses working in Vermont birthing hospitals with the goal of decreasing infant mortality from SUIDS