Small Baby Care
Specialist® Program
Executive Summary
The premature (VLBW, ELBW, Micro-premature) infant is at the highest risk for: prolonged hospital experience, key morbidities, long term neurodevelopmental challenges, family stress, increased hospital expenses, and infant death. More and more small babies survive until discharge from the NICU, but not without complications or morbidities that impact their future.
EngageGrowThrive, LLC developed an evidence-based program presented by small baby experts designed to provide the neonatal interdisciplinary clinician an opportunity to learn current evidence and best practices as a Small Baby Care Specialist® (SBCS). A Small Baby Care Specialist® (SBCS) is a neonatal professional who has successfully completed neonatal education and training in Small Baby Care.
An interdisciplinary Content Expert Panel (CEP) reviewed the program content to ensure current evidence-base, meeting stated behavioral objectives, and relevance to current practice. The SBCS program also provides practical integration of knowledge to immediately facilitate small baby neonatal team-based practice in the NICU.
Small Baby Care Specialist® Program Overview
The overarching goal of the program is to transform care provided by the interdisciplinary NICU team to improve the experience and outcomes for premature babies and their families.
The program is designed as a Small Baby Care Specialist® Conference in an online format to provide the neonatal clinician (all disciplines) with an opportunity to learn content evidence in a convenient environment. The benefits of an online format are:
- Convenience: readily available any time, any day
- Relieves organizational burden to find expert speakers and schedule classes
Relieves staffing challenges for all team members to attend training
- Program includes Discussion Board to share comments and ideas
This program also has the potential to provide necessary evidence-based neonatal education and training for NICU team members in those NICUs who are interested in developing a small baby program.
EngageGrowThrive, LLC is committed to building inter-professional neonatal team knowledge, leading to improved quality and safety of care for the smallest babies and their families. Courses will be updated at a minimum of every three years to keep up with current evidence.
At the completion of the video courses, the participant is awarded 42.5 contact hours approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing commensurate with the content. SBCS completion is not licensure and does not guarantee competence. Competence in care is determined by State licensing boards and organizations where the individual is employed.
Program Outline
The program outline is very intentional, focusing on reduction of the common morbidities experienced by premature infants. Each presentation contains measurable objectives, and is based on systems, topics, or diagnoses applicable to most small babies. Quizzes follow many of the presentations to help solidify knowledge learned. Practice Integration videos are included to demonstrate specific aspects of the presentation, reiterate key take-aways, share suggested quality improvement ideas, and model care. This unique feature encourages the participant to begin practicing their knowledge and expertise immediately.
Presentation and Faculty:
- Family Partnered Care | Amy Nyberg, Parent Panel
- Small Baby Survival and Outcomes | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS
- Maternal Role Attainment | Alex Luton, MN, NCNS-BC, NNP-BC
- Communication/Teamwork | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS
- Continuity of Care (Primary Nursing) | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC
- QI Process Improvement | Robert Ursprung, MD
- Resuscitation/Golden Hour/Stabilization | Michael S. Dunn, MD, FRCPC
- Thermoregulation | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC
- Prevention of Growth Failure | Gina O’Toole, RD, MPH, CLEC, CNSC & Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS
- Benefits of Human Milk | Christine Bixby, MD
- Pre-Feeding Foundations | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLE
- NEC Prevention | Jae Kim, MD, PhD
Prevention of BPD | Jay Goldsmith, MD
- Respiratory Modalities | Antoine Soliman, MD
- Prevention of ROP | Jay Goldsmith, MD
- Apnea of Prematurity | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS
- PDA | John P. Cleary, MD
- Neurodevelopmental Risks and Outcomes | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS
- Neurosensory & Limbic System Development | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC
- Neuroprotection and Injury Prevention | Mindy Morris, DNP, NNP-BC, CNS
Prevention of Pain and Stress | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLE
- Non-Pharmacologic Pain and Stress Relief | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLE
- Positioning | Liz Drake, MN, NNP, CNS, RNC-NIC
Skin to Skin Holding | Karin Mitchell, MA, CCC-SLP, CNT, CLP and Liz Drake & Parent Partner
Infection Risks and Outcomes | Linda Lefrak, MSN
CLABSI Prevention | Alex Luton, MN, NCNS-BC, NNP-BC
Antibiotic Stewardship | Linda Lefrak, MSN
Skin Care | Carolyn Lund, RN, MS, FAAN, CNS
- Renal | Mindy Morris DNP, NNP-BC, CNS
Small Baby Pharmacotherapy | Tina Lee, Pharm. D.
- Professional Neonatal Practice | Pamela Spivey, MSD, APRN, CCNS, RN-BC
- Intentional Caregiving in the NICU | Sue Ludwig OTR/L
Program Info
- $375 Individual Program
Contact Us For Group Pricing (5+ participants)
- 42.5 Contact Hours
Planning a team-based approach?
Customize the Small Baby Care Specialist® Program for your NICU.
National Certification Corporation ELBW Sub-Specialty Certification
Coming 2019Interested in SBCS?
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SBCS Testimonials
Jeanine Pourier
RN-BSN, CCRN, RNC-NIC, RNc-LRN
“Wow! What an amazing program! So much useful information! Our NICU opened a small baby unit a few years ago and we have adopted a lot of these practices. The lecture on intentional caregiving was phenomenal! I will be doing this at work, for each baby and I intend to bring this home to my kids as well!!!”NICU RN
“I especially loved the section with the interviews of NICU parents. It was so interesting and enlightening to get their perspectives, and as a result I want to be even better about including parents in the care plan for their infant and in making sure they are involved through every step of the NICU stay”.
NICU RT
“I found the program to have an abundant amount of information and it made me realize that what I do as an RT is an integral part of the entire NICU cycle. I am excited to use this information as we move forward with our small baby project. I want to include the family more, I want to be engaged and have them be part of the care of their infant. I want them to know that I am there for their baby and for them”.37-year NICU RN
“Topics were relevant to my area of practice. Speakers were knowledgeable and easy to engage with. The handouts were easy to follow and liked having the capability of downloading the information for future reference. The quality of the webinars was just like attending a conference except in the comfort of my own home. This program has me looking at my tiny patients and their families with a fresh perspective. I am reminded that the care I give at the bedside and the manner in which it is performed has the greatest impact on these babies and their outcomes.”NICU Developmental Therapist
“Loved the discussion on parenting roles and empowering them-helped to have a deeper understanding of what they may be experiencing.”NICU RN
“This program was excellent! I really loved that this program was a perfect balance of clinical applications, research, important physiological content, in addition to lectures about leadership, the parent’s experience, and intentional nursing.”NICU RN
“Very well done! I love how you took this a step further with the practice integration.”