Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Flashcards

Which intervention has the strongest evidence for lowering necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) risk in preterm infants?

Answer: Exclusive human milk feeding

Human milk, especially the mother's own, is associated with a lower NEC incidence than formula.

Which element is part of a typical ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundle in neonates?

Answer: Routine oral care and keeping the head of bed elevated when appropriate

Oral care, minimizing circuit breaks and positioning are common VAP bundle components, whereas frequent circuit changes raise risk.

A stranger in scrubs without a badge asks to take an infant to another room. What is the correct nursing response?

Answer: Refuse, verify identity, and notify security per infant security policy

Infant security policy requires verified identification and notification of security for unauthorized requests.

Critical congenital heart disease screening by pulse oximetry is generally performed at what time?

Answer: At 24 to 48 hours of age or just before discharge if earlier

Screening at 24 to 48 hours improves accuracy by reducing false positives from transitional circulation.

Which discharge teaching item is most important to reduce sudden unexpected infant death?

Answer: Place the infant on the back on a firm flat surface with no loose bedding

Supine sleep on a firm, bare surface is the core safe sleep recommendation.

What is the recommended hand hygiene method when hands are visibly soiled?

Answer: Soap and water

Visibly soiled hands require soap and water, and soap and water is also required after contact with spore-forming organisms.

Which practice helps prevent a retained-misidentified breast milk error in the NICU?

Answer: Using a two-person check or barcode scan of milk label against infant ID before feeding

Verifying milk labels against infant identifiers prevents feeding another mother's milk.