Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Are families prepared for discharge from the NICU?
V C Smith1, S Young, D M Pursley
1Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. vsmith1@bidmc.harvard.edu
Objective:
(1) Quantify and compare the family's and the nurse's perception regarding the family's discharge preparedness. (2) Determine which elements contribute to a family's discharge preparedness.
Study Design:
We studied the families of all the infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit after a minimum of a 2-week admission. The families rated their overall discharge preparedness with a 9-point Likert scale on the day of discharge. Independently, the discharging nurse evaluated the family's discharge preparedness. Families were considered discharge 'prepared' if they rated themselves and the nurse rated their technical and emotional preparedness as >or=7 on the Likert scale.
Result:
We had 867 (58%) family-nurse pairs who completed the survey. Most families (87%) were prepared for discharge as assessed by the concordant questionnaire (Likert scores of >or=7 by the parent and the nurse). In multivariate analysis, confidence in their child's health and maturity (odds ratios, OR=2.5 95% confidence interval, CI (1.2, 5.3)), their readiness for their infants to come home (OR=2.9 95% CI (1.0, 8.3)), and selecting a pediatrician (OR=4.2 95% CI (1.6, 11.0)) were statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Assistance with pediatrician selection and home preparation may improve the percentage of families prepared for discharge.
Related Concept Videos
Planning Nursing Care I
Discharge Summary Forms
Here's a detailed look at the key components and guidelines for preparing a discharge summary:
Endotracheal Intubation II: Nursing Management
1. Nursing Care of Patients Before Intubation
Before the endotracheal intubation procedure, nurses play an essential role in ensuring the process goes smoothly. The nurses must be familiar with intubation...
Restorative Care
Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
