Meredith Carroll McSwain
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital- Brenner Children's, United States of America
Name: Meredith Carroll McSwain
Affiliation: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital- Brenner Children’s
Country: United States of America
Title: Gut Instinct Meets Clinical Structure: Implementation of GutCheckNEC with SBAR to Enhance Communication and Teamwork
Abstract:
Background: Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a medical emergency and major cause of mortality in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) globally. Early identification of signs and symptoms, as well as communication to the medical team, is imperative.
Purpose: In a NICU with a high proportion of novice nurses, a lack of standardized education and communication tools hindered early identification and provider notification of early NEC signs and symptoms. The purpose of this project was to implement the GutCheckNEC with SBAR into a highacuity, Level IV NICU to increase communication of early signs and symptoms of NEC between bedside nurses and medical providers.
Methods: The Revised Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) guided this project from a clinical and systems perspective. The Relational Coordination (RC) theory was used as an evidence translation theory and its validated tool, the Relational Coordination Survey, was used to measure teamwork and collaboration between bedside nurses and medical team members pre- and postintervention. Interventions included nursing education, simulation-based training, and incorporation of the SBAR tool into clinical workflows.
Results: Relational Coordination Score (RCS) results indicate improvement in communication and teamwork. Nursing RCS scores increased significantly from a pre-intervention mean of 3.06 (SD=0.67)
Biography of Presenting Author: Meredith Carroll McSwain, DNP, APRN, C-ONQS, is a compassionate and highly skilled Neonatal Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience in Level III and IV NICUs. Currently serving as a dedicated clinician and educator at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in WinstonSalem, North Carolina, Dr. McSwain specializes in managing critically ill and premature neonates. She is recognized for her clinical leadership and commitment to quality improvement initiatives that optimize patient outcomes. A passionate mentor, she guides graduate nursing students, residents, and fellow physicians, fostering excellence in neonatal care through a focus on clinical competency and patient-centered practice.