[Reducing the Incidence of Nasal Injury in Premature Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]

Due to immature lung development, premature infants require long-term ventilator support and sputum suction to maintain stable vital signs. However, as the stratum corneum in premature infants has yet to fully develop, using nasal respirators and suction introduces risks including compression and pulling of the nasal prongs of the respirator tube; improper suction frequency, pressure, and depth; and poor suction efficacy Moreover, lack of oxygen and restlessness may result in nasal injury, which was found in 27.9% of premature infants in our hospital.

The purpose of this project was to improve the knowledge of nurses regarding nasal injury prevention in premature infants and thus reduce the incidence of these injuries in the neonatal ward.

A guidance manual for premature infant care and a sputum suctioning and sputum suctioning flowchart reminder card were developed and provided to nurses as references during the care process. Also, a ventilator tube fixing support tools were installed to prevent ventilator tubes from slipping and pulling on the nose of premature infants. In addition, educational training on nasal care for premature infants was organized and a specialist assessment mechanism was established to improve nursing staff capabilities and quality of care.

The accuracy rate for knowledge on preventing nasal injury in premature infants among nurses increased to 95.3%, and the incidence of nasal injury in premature infants decreased from 27.9% to 18.5%.

This project was effective in improving clinical operations, completing standard operating procedures, enhancing nursing staff care capabilities, and improving the quality of care provided to premature infants, ensuring premature infants receive more complete and safer care.