Nursing Students Knowledge of Infant Safe Sleep: A Review of the Literature
Abstract
In the United States, 3,500 infants die each year from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). These deaths are related to unsafe sleep circumstances. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released updated infant safe sleep recommendations in 2022 that include the use of firm, non-inclined sleep surface, supine position, room sharing without bed sharing, and avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. The recommendations also call for healthcare professionals to endorse and model safe infant sleep guidelines. Nurses are the primary educator for parents during the pre and post-natal experience so it is critical for nurses to be knowledgeable about, endorse and model the AAP evidence based infant safe sleep recommendations for new parents and caregivers. However, many nurses and nursing students lack safe sleep knowledge and are unprepared to educate new parents regarding infant safe sleeping recommendations. When nurses and nursing students demonstrate infant safe sleep behaviors evidence indicates that parents are more likely to imitate this behavior, thus reducing infant deaths. Nursing students are the ideal candidates for education on infant safe sleep as they are the future of nursing practice and the majority of nursing students are of childbearing age and will be able to use their knowledge of infant safe sleep to educate their peers and patients. We will conduct a literature review on the topic Nursing Students Knowledge of Infant Safe Sleep. Following PRISMA guidelines, we will review literature and analyze findings on the topic of nursing students' knowledge of infant safe sleep. In a preliminary search of research on the topic of nursing students' knowledge of infant sleep, it was concluded that little research has been done on this topic. Determining nursing students' knowledge of infant safe sleep and implementing interventions may lead to a decrease in SIUD. Our research is in progress.
Nursing Students Knowledge of Infant Safe Sleep: A Review of the Literature
CNS Atrium
In the United States, 3,500 infants die each year from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). These deaths are related to unsafe sleep circumstances. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released updated infant safe sleep recommendations in 2022 that include the use of firm, non-inclined sleep surface, supine position, room sharing without bed sharing, and avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. The recommendations also call for healthcare professionals to endorse and model safe infant sleep guidelines. Nurses are the primary educator for parents during the pre and post-natal experience so it is critical for nurses to be knowledgeable about, endorse and model the AAP evidence based infant safe sleep recommendations for new parents and caregivers. However, many nurses and nursing students lack safe sleep knowledge and are unprepared to educate new parents regarding infant safe sleeping recommendations. When nurses and nursing students demonstrate infant safe sleep behaviors evidence indicates that parents are more likely to imitate this behavior, thus reducing infant deaths. Nursing students are the ideal candidates for education on infant safe sleep as they are the future of nursing practice and the majority of nursing students are of childbearing age and will be able to use their knowledge of infant safe sleep to educate their peers and patients. We will conduct a literature review on the topic Nursing Students Knowledge of Infant Safe Sleep. Following PRISMA guidelines, we will review literature and analyze findings on the topic of nursing students' knowledge of infant safe sleep. In a preliminary search of research on the topic of nursing students' knowledge of infant sleep, it was concluded that little research has been done on this topic. Determining nursing students' knowledge of infant safe sleep and implementing interventions may lead to a decrease in SIUD. Our research is in progress.