Presentation
Role of Work System Barriers and Facilitators in NICU NNP Workload: A Multi-Site Study
SessionHC13: Nurse Perspectives
DescriptionThe neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) plays a critical role in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), managing complex responsibilities within challenging work environments. This multi-site qualitative study explored work system barriers and facilitators influencing NNP workload in two large Level-IV NICUs. Thirty-two NNPs participated through direct observations and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis combined deductive and inductive methods informed by situational workload frameworks. Key barriers contributing to high workload included competing task demands, poor interprofessional coordination, frequent interruptions, limited ancillary support, unexpected admissions or discharges, shortages of experienced nursing staff, high patient acuity, and staffing shortages. Facilitators that mitigated workload included strong rapport with attendings and fellows, collaborative coworkers, effective task prioritization and delegation, experienced RNs, and adequate ancillary support. The findings highlight critical areas for targeted interventions to optimize NNP workload management, patient safety, and clinician well-being. Future work will refine and expand these findings through further data aggregation and systematic coding. By addressing the identified barriers and reinforcing facilitators, healthcare systems can better support NNP performance and resilience in high-acuity NICU environments.
Contributors
Event Type
Industry/Practitioner Content
Lecture
TimeThursday, October 16th11:30am - 11:50am CDT
LocationGrand Hall J
Health Care
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