TY - JOUR
T1 - Neonatal therapy
T2 - A survey of current practice
AU - Pineda, Roberta
AU - Degaetano, Sara
AU - Kindra, Margaret
AU - Hand, Theresa
AU - Craig, Jenene
AU - Fernandez-Fernandez, Alicia
AU - Collette, Debra
N1 - Funding Information:
Three of the authors (RP, AF, and JC) are past or previous board members of the Neonatal Therapy National Certification Board (NTNCB), but they did not receive any payment for their work related to this manuscript. Their participation on the NTNCB is volunteer in nature, and fees generated from the certification process have no direct financial benefit to them. There are no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose for the other authors. The authors have no financial conflicts of interest relevant to publication of the subject matter or materials in this manuscript. There was no funding that supported this project.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - BACKGROUND: Although considered an advanced area of practice, there has been insufficient standardization in clinical training and preparedness for occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) practicing in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The first step in developing a neonatal therapy certification process was to conduct a practice analysis. PURPOSE: To describe: 1) the collection of OTs, PTs, and SLPs working in NICUs, 2) educational and professional preparation to practice in the NICU, and 3) interest in neonatal therapy national certification. METHODS: An online survey of 468 neonatal therapists was completed in 2015-2016. RESULTS: There were 208 (47%) participants who were OTs, 140 (32%) PTs, and 94 (21%) SLPs. Among respondents, 187 (50%) neonatal therapists had a clinical doctorate, and 143 (40%) therapists practiced for > 5 years prior to entering NICU practice. There were 299 (88%) therapists who believed oversight and accountability in the NICU are highly important, and 329 (98%) therapists were interested in a neonatal therapy certification program. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced training and skills of neonatal therapists are vital to ensure safe, effective and evidence-based practice. Insufficient standardization in training and variable adherence to education and training guidelines provided credibility for the creation of a neonatal therapy national certification process, which has now been implemented.
AB - BACKGROUND: Although considered an advanced area of practice, there has been insufficient standardization in clinical training and preparedness for occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) practicing in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The first step in developing a neonatal therapy certification process was to conduct a practice analysis. PURPOSE: To describe: 1) the collection of OTs, PTs, and SLPs working in NICUs, 2) educational and professional preparation to practice in the NICU, and 3) interest in neonatal therapy national certification. METHODS: An online survey of 468 neonatal therapists was completed in 2015-2016. RESULTS: There were 208 (47%) participants who were OTs, 140 (32%) PTs, and 94 (21%) SLPs. Among respondents, 187 (50%) neonatal therapists had a clinical doctorate, and 143 (40%) therapists practiced for > 5 years prior to entering NICU practice. There were 299 (88%) therapists who believed oversight and accountability in the NICU are highly important, and 329 (98%) therapists were interested in a neonatal therapy certification program. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced training and skills of neonatal therapists are vital to ensure safe, effective and evidence-based practice. Insufficient standardization in training and variable adherence to education and training guidelines provided credibility for the creation of a neonatal therapy national certification process, which has now been implemented.
KW - Certification
KW - NICU
KW - advanced practice
KW - competency
KW - infant
KW - occupational therapy
KW - pediatrics
KW - physical therapy
KW - specialty
KW - speech-language pathology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85073183928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/PRM-180565
DO - 10.3233/PRM-180565
M3 - Article
C2 - 31476177
AN - SCOPUS:85073183928
SN - 1874-5393
VL - 12
SP - 285
EP - 294
JO - Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
JF - Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
IS - 3
ER -