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Purpose: To assess skin-to-skin contact during cesarean birth, including incidence and maternal characteristics. Study Design and Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective study using survey methods was conducted. Women who had a cesarean birth within the last 10 years prior to January 2022 were recruited via social media. Descriptive statistics, chi square, and binary logistic regression analyses were calculated. Results: There were 2,327 participants, of which 29.7% experienced skin-to-skin contact during their cesarean birth. This was reported to be less often than desired. Significant associations were found among skin-to-skin contact during cesarean birth and planned cesarean birth, previous cesarean birth, maternal age, level of education, and birth region. Previous vaginal birth and race were not significantly associated with skin-to-skin contact during cesarean birth. Most (93.65%) respondents identified as White. Barriers to skin-to-skin contact during cesarean birth may be birth region, unplanned or emergency cesarean births, younger age, lacking a college degree, and lack of previous cesarean births. Clinical Implications: There are differences in incidence and access to skin-to-skin contact during cesarean birth. Our findings emphasize the continued need to address disparities in care, increase maternal health care equity, and make skin-to-skin contact during cesarean birth available for all women who desire it. In this study, women in the United States who had a cesarean birth in the last decade were recruited via social media for a survey about skin-to-skin contact with the newborn during their most recent cesarean birth. The reported incidence of skin-to-skin contact during cesarean birth increased over the last decade, however many women indicated a desire to do so but not being able to have the experience. All women having cesarean birth should be offered skin-to-skin contact in the first hour after birth if desired and feasible given the condition of the mother and baby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Implementing innovative approaches to vascular access can be challenging in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Purpose: The purpose of this project was to describe the implementation of extended dwell peripheral intravenous (EPIV) catheters, a vascular access device not widely used in the NICU. The implementation involved (1) designing clinical criteria for EPIV catheter use, (2) education of vascular access NICU nurses, and (3) comparing clinical outcomes between vascular access devices (ie, PIV and EPIV catheters). Methods: We developed evidence-based clinical criteria guiding the use of vascular access devices. We then developed an educational plan for NICU nurses focused on vascular access. Finally, we collected and compared demographic characteristics and clinical data on catheter type and placement attempts, dwell time, and clinical complications associated with each catheter. Results: EPIV catheters were implemented according to evidence-based criteria by a vascular access NICU nursing team. Fifteen percent of PIV catheter placements required 3 or more attempts compared with just 1% of EPIV catheter placement attempts. EPIV catheters had a longer median dwell time (3.5 vs 1 day) and fewer complications than PIV catheters (P <.001). Implications for Practice and Research: Implementation of an evidence-based approach to vascular access by a team of NICU nurses may improve clinical outcomes. EPIV catheters may be an appropriate alternative device to PIV catheters due to fewer placement attempts, longer dwell times, and overall fewer complications during use. Future vascular access research in the NICU may include a greater focus on innovative placement strategies, optimal maintenance and infection control, and prevention of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]