We are excited to share the promise and innovation of Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare (SBNH) Leadership (SBNH-L). As a mindset, SBNH-L is more than a management philosophy. It is an intentional and purposeful value-driven approach that puts humans at the forefront and helps leaders honour, mobilize and cultivate the strengths that reside in individuals and teams. SBNH leaders focus on people, systems and solutions, cultivating relationships and being transformative in the service of others and the system at large. An SBNH leader is one who leans into change with an open mindset, who thinks about the ecosystems we are in and who acts to make a positive difference and address challenges across the healthcare sector as we emerge from the pandemic period. What we need right now is authentic leadership to foster positive change, influence work environments and support much-needed recovery and healing. In short, this issue of the Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership has arrived at the right time. You will find articles that offer valuable exemplars of how SBNH-L has guided advancements in nursing administration and leadership, practice, teaching and research.

Introduction Oral sucrose is repeatedly administered to neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to treat pain from commonly performed procedures; however, there is limited evidence on its long-term cumulative effect on neurodevelopment. We examined the association between total sucrose volumes administered to preterm neonates for pain mitigation in the NICU and their neurodevelopment at 18 months of corrected age (CA).Methods A prospective longitudinal single-arm observational study that enrolled hospitalised preterm neonates <32 weeks of gestational age at birth and <10 days of life was conducted in four level III NICUs in Canada. Neonates received 0.1 mL of 24% sucrose 2 min prior to all commonly performed painful procedures during their NICU stay. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 18 months of CA using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Multiple neonatal and maternal factors known to affect development were adjusted for in the generalised linear model analysis.Results 172 preterm neonates were enrolled and 118 were included in the analysis at 18 months of CA. The total mean sucrose volume administered/neonate/NICU stay was 5.96 (±5.6) mL, and the mean Bayley-III composite scores were: cognitive 91 (±17), language 86 (±18) and motor 88 (±18). There was no association between Bayley-III scores and the total sucrose volume: cognitive (p=0.57), language (p=0.42) and motor (p=0.70).Conclusion Cumulative sucrose exposure for repeated procedural pain in preterm neonates was neither associated with a delay in neurodevelopment nor neuroprotective effects at 18 months of CA. If sucrose is used, we suggest the minimally effective dose combined with other non-pharmacological interventions with demonstrated effectiveness such as skin-to-skin contact, non-nutritive sucking, facilitated tucking and swaddling.Trial registration number NCT02725814.

Nursing leadership is essential to improving nurse retention, their well-being, the quality of nursing care and patient safety. As healthcare leaders become increasingly aware of Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (SBNH-L), we dialogued with Canadian nurse leaders to understand their views on this leadership approach. Five senior nursing leaders representing practice, academic and health policy contexts were interviewed. Five themes emerged: connections, opportunities for growth, humanism, optimism and hope for the future. Leaders shared that SBNH-L is a valuable, timely leadership approach that will promote system-wide health and healing post-pandemic. A call to action is offered to advance adoption of this essential leadership approach.

The nursing context in pediatric rehabilitation is that of caring for children with disabilities and complex developmental differences and health conditions in an ever-changing and demanding environment. Rehabilitation nurses aim to continuously advance nursing leadership, practice, education and research to meet service needs. Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare (SBNH) is a philosophy and value-driven approach that aligns with and enables the advancement of strengths-based rehabilitation nursing and family-centred care. This paper describes the leadership approach undertaken to implement SBNH in a Canadian pediatric rehabilitation hospital context over a 10-year period. We will share what we did and what we learned.

The nurse practitioner role is strongly suited to meet the needs of children with complex developmental conditions in pediatric rehabili-tation settings as they have a unique combination of clinical expertise. To meet the increasing demands in a large Canadian pediatric reha-bilitation hospital, the NP role was implemented in several clinical program settings to improve access to care. This paper describes the contributions of NPs to nine specialized inpatient and outpatient programs in NP-led, collaborative NP and physician or interagency care team models of practice. The initial challenges of role implemen-tation and implications for NP practice, research and leadership are discussed. J Pediatr Health Care. (2023) 37, e1-e10

Abstract Purpose Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder often report poorer sleep compared to parents of typically developing children. When parents do not obtain enough quality sleep, functioning may be compromised placing the onus of care on already stressed parents. However, improving sleep duration may not improve sleep quality and is not always feasible. This study aimed to measure sleep quality in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, determine if stress and children’s sleep are associated with sleep quality and whether resources, appraisals, and coping moderate these relationships. Materials and Methods Multivariable regression was used to determine the effects of stress and children’s sleep problems on sleep quality and test modifying effects. Results Mean (SD) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores was 8.81 (3.76), with 77.6% of parents scoring above the clinical cut-off. Mean (SD) Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire scores was 54.03 (8.32), with 96.3% of parents rating their child’s sleep above the clinical cut-off. Children’s sleep was the only significant predictor and none of the expected effect modifiers were significant. Conclusion Children’s sleep may be an important target to improve parent sleep quality but requires systematic assessment with interventional research. Implications for rehabilitation Both parents and their 4–10-year-old children with ASD experience high levels of sleep disturbances. Clinicians can start the conversation early with parents about their children’s sleep by providing them with information to increase awareness and recognize healthy sleep habits in their children. Clinicians are important in the assessment, management, and evaluation of pediatric sleep problems, which may have significant spillover effects on parents of children with ASD. There is a need for more resources and training to be available to clinicians to assess children and their parents for sleep problems, which could extend beyond the assessment of sleep and consider parent’s daytime functioning and mental health.

GoalTo determine the analgesic effectiveness of repeated sucrose administration for skin-breaking (SB) procedures over the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hospitalization of preterm infants.MethodsLongitudinal observational study, conducted in four level III Canadian NICUs. Eligible infants were <32 weeks gestational age at birth, and <10 days of life at enrollment. Infants received 24% sucrose (0.12 ml) prior to all painful procedures. The Premature Infant Pain Profile – Revised (PIPP-R) was used at 30 and 60 seconds after a medically-required SB procedure as soon as possible after enrollment and weekly up to three additional times for scheduled procedures.Results172 infants (57.3% male, gestational age 28.35 (±2.31) weeks) were included. The mean 30 s PIPP-R scores were 6.11 (±3.68), 5.76 (±3.41), 6.48 (±3.67), and 6.81 (±3.69) respectively; there were no statistically significant interactions of study site by time (p = 0.31) or over time (p = 0.15). At 60 s, mean PIPP-R scores were 6.05 (±4.09), 5.74 (±3.67), 6.19 (±3.7), and 5.99 (±3.76) respectively; there were no study site by time interactions (p = 0.14) or differences over time (p = 0.52). There was a statistically significant site difference in the effectiveness of sucrose at 30 and 60 seconds (p < 0.01).ConclusionsConsistently low PIPP-R scores following a skin-breaking procedure indicated that the analgesic effectiveness of the minimal dose of sucrose was sustained over time in the NICU. Further research is required to determine the optimal combination of sucrose and other pain management strategies to improve clinical practice and the impact of consistent use of repeated use of sucrose on neurodevelopment.

Although sucrose is widely administered to hospitalized infants for single painful procedures, total sucrose volume during the entire neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay and associated adverse events are unknown. In a longitudinal observation study, we aimed to quantify and contextualize sucrose administration during the NICU stay. Specifically, we investigated the frequency, nature, and severity of painful procedures; proportion of procedures where neonates received sucrose; total volume of sucrose administered for painful procedures; and incidence and type of adverse events. Neonates <32 weeks gestational age at birth and <10 days of life were recruited from four Canadian tertiary NICUs. Daily chart reviews of documented painful procedures, sucrose administration, and any associated adverse events were undertaken. One hundred sixty-eight neonates underwent a total of 9093 skin-breaking procedures (mean 54.1 [±65.2] procedures/neonate or 1.1 [±0.9] procedures/day/neonate) during an average NICU stay of 45.9 (±31.4) days. Pain severity was recorded for 5399/9093 (59.4%) of the painful procedures; the majority (5051 [93.5%]) were heel lances of moderate pain intensity. Sucrose was administered for 7839/9093 (86.2%) of painful procedures. The total average sucrose volume was 5.5 (±5.4) mL/neonate or 0.11 (±0.08) mL/neonate/day. Infants experienced an average of 7.9 (±12.7) minor adverse events associated with pain and/or sucrose administration that resolved without intervention. The total number of painful procedures, sucrose volume, and incidence of adverse events throughout the NICU stay were described addressing an important knowledge gap in neonatal pain. These data provide a baseline for examining the association between total sucrose volume during NICU stay and research on longer-term behavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Abstract Background Preterm neonates, often hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU), undergo multiple skin-breaking procedures. To minimize procedural pain, these infants frequently receive repeated administration of sucrose of varying concentrations and doses. Repetitive procedural pain has been associated with neurodevelopmental consequences, but long-term effects of repeated sucrose administration and volume are unknown. Objectives Our goal was to examine the association of total volume of sucrose over the NICU stay and neurodevelopment of preterm neonates at 18 months corrected gestational age (CGA). Design/Methods A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted in four level-III Canadian NICUs. Infants <32 weeks of gestational age (GA) at birth and <10 days of life at enrollment were included. The minimally effective dose of 24% sucrose (0.1 ml) was administered prior to all skin-breaking procedures during the NICU stay. Total volume of sucrose administered for painful procedures was calculated for the full hospitalization. Infants were assessed at 18 months CGA by a trained observer using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). The standardized mean score for each Bayley-III component was reported out of 100 (±15). Scores ≥85 are considered within normal limits. The association between sucrose and 18-month composite development scores, adjusting for birthweight and maternal use of medication for depression, were conducted using GEE models accounting for NICU site. Results Of the 168 infants enrolled in the study, 118 completed the Bayley-III assessment at 18 months (60% male, mean GA at birth 28.3 [±2.2] weeks, mean birth weight [1092 (±354) grams]). Infants received an average of 5.92 (±5.59) ml of sucrose during the hospitalization for an average of 58 (±70) skin-breaking painful procedures. The mean Bayley-III scores were within normal limits; cognitive 91 (±17), language 86 (±18), motor 88 (±17). There was no statistically significant association between total sucrose volume administered and cognitive (p=0.98), language (p=0.68), and motor (p=0.29) Bayley-III scores in the adjusted analyses. Conclusion Results do not generally indicate neurodevelopmental delay in preterm infants assessed at 18 months of CGA. The association between total sucrose volume administered for painful procedures and neurodevelopment requires more research as the infant matures, to better understand the impact of sucrose on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes and with attention to potential confounders. The relationship between the combination of sucrose and other evidence-supported interventions (e.g., skin-to-skin care, breastfeeding) for all painful procedures during the NICU and neurodevelopment also requires further investigation.

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a complex care environment, with the NICU patient population among the most vulnerable in a hospital setting. Adolescent parents are a unique group within the broader NICU parent population and admission of their infant to the NICU contributes to an already complex situation as adolescent pregnancy and parenting is often associated with a range of psychosocial challenges. How the NICU care context influences care provision for adolescent parents is a significant gap in the NICU parenting and support discourse. Therefore, this study aimed to explore health and social care providers’ perspectives of the NICU care context and how providers perceive the context as influencing the experiences of adolescent parents in the NICU. This was a qualitative, interpretive description study design. In-depth interviews were conducted with providers, including nurses and social workers, caring for adolescent parents in the NICU. Data was collected between December 2019 and November 2020. Data were analyzed concurrently with data collection. Constant comparison, analytic memos, and iterative diagramming techniques were used to challenge developing analytic patterns. Providers (n = 23) described how the unit context influenced care provision as well as experiences for adolescent parents. We learned that having a baby in the NICU was perceived by providers as a traumatic experience for parents – impacting attachment, parenting confidence and competence, and mental health. Environmental factors – such as privacy and time – and perceptions that adolescent parents are treated differently in the NICU were also seen as influencing this overall experience. Providers involved in the care of adolescent parents in the neonatal intensive care unit described the distinctiveness of this group within the broader parent population and how quality of care may be impacted by contextual factors as well as experiences of age-related stigma. Further understanding of NICU experiences from the parents’ perspectives are warranted. Findings highlight opportunities for strengthened interprofessional collaboration and trauma- and violence-informed care strategies within the neonatal intensive care environment to mitigate the potential negative influence of this experience and improve care for adolescent parents.

Pregnancy and parenting in adolescence and the transition home following the hospitalization of an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are two relatively complex phenomena; and whilst each have been consistently explored within the relevant literature, little is understood about the care required when they intersect. Using interpretive description methodology to guide our exploration, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 expert providers caring for adolescent parents involved in NICU-to-home transitions to describe this process in their practice. Findings suggest that supporting successful NICU-to-home transitions for adolescent parents relied strongly on understanding the impact of the NICU experience, establishing therapeutic relationships and facilitating supportive partnerships between the NICU and parents as well as the NICU and supportive services post-discharge. Findings highlight the opportunity for more integrated models of care within the NICU and extending into the community to address the complex biopsychosocial care needs of this parent population.

BACKGROUND:Parents of children with disabilities often report stress, depression, and anxiety. This review identified screening tools and practices that pediatric rehabilitation service providers can use to screen the mental health of parents of children with disabilities.METHODS:An interdisciplinary team and patient partner completed the systematic review in which 16,015 articles were screened and 473 articles were included to i) identify mental health tools that were used with parents, ii) determine the clinical utility of frequently used tools, iii) examine the screening practices used in pediatric rehabilitation contexts.RESULTS:115 screening tools were used to screen parents' mental health. The Parenting Stress Index was used most often. Seven studies reported screening in order to recommend further assessment or supports. Increased awareness, training, resources, and infrastructure are needed to support parents' mental health.DISCUSSION:Evidence is needed to guide mental health screening practices in pediatric rehabilitation and determine their effectiveness.

Objective: Survivors of extremely preterm birth are at risk of re-hospitalization but risk factors in the Canadian population are unknown. Our objective is to identify neonatal, sociodemographic, and geographic characteristics that predict re-hospitalization in Canadian extremely preterm neonates. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective observational cohort study that included preterm infants born 22 to 28 weeks' gestational age from April 1, 2009 to September 30, 2011 and seen at 18 to 24 months corrected gestational age in a Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network clinic. Characteristics of infants re-hospitalized versus not re-hospitalized are compared. The potential neonatal, sociodemographic, and geographic factors with significant association in the univariate analysis are included in a multivariate model. Results: From a total of 2,275 preterm infants born at 22 to 28 weeks gestation included, 838 (36.8%) were re-hospitalized at least once. There were significant disparities between Canadian provincial regions, ranging from 25.9% to 49.4%. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with an increased risk for re-hospitalization were region of residence, male sex, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, ethnicity, Indigenous ethnicity, and sibling(s) in the home. Conclusion: Various neonatal, sociodemographic, and geographic factors predict re-hospitalization of extremely preterm infants born in Canada. The risk factors of re-hospitalization provide insights to help health care leaders explore potential preventative approaches to improve child health and reduce health care system costs.

Background: Parents of children born preterm with a disability often experience profound psychological distress with transition from neonatal to rehabilitation services. Four interventions were found effective to support parents throughout this critical transition period whereby parental stress can threaten the child's development. Purpose: To examine parents' perceptions of the acceptability of four evidence-based interventions to support their transition. Methods: A quantitative design using survey methods was employed with 24 parents with experience in transition to rehabilitation services. Each participant rated the acceptability of the interventions using the Treatment Perception and Preference scale. Descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results: Mean overall acceptability scores differed across the four interventions (p = .042); the difference was of moderate size (eta(2) = 11). Parents perceived psychoeducation and narrative therapy as most acceptable, followed by website consultation with healthcare providers and parent support program, then parent self-help program. Conclusions: Psychoeducation and narrative therapy should be accessible to parents experiencing transition from neonatal to rehabilitation services.

Neonatal follow-up has long focused on a model of surveillance and identification of short-term outcomes. This model has long become outdated, with evidence documenting the need for longer follow-up with known school-based challenges and significant gaps in knowledge by educators. This article reviews the history of neonatal follow-up and demonstrates a novel approach to neonatal follow-up, built largely with a hybrid virtual platform, which then became essential with the declaration of the pandemic in 2020.

Introduction Having an infant admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is associated with increased parental stress, anxiety and depression. Enhanced support for parents may decrease parental stress and improve subsequent parent and child outcomes. The Coached, Coordinated, Enhanced Neonatal Transition (CCENT) programme is a novel bundled intervention of psychosocial support delivered by a nurse navigator that includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based coaching, care coordination and anticipatory education for parents of high-risk infants in the NICU through the first year at home. The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of the intervention on parent stress at 12 months. Methods and analysis This is a multicentre pragmatic randomised controlled superiority trial with 1:1 allocation to the CCENT model versus control (standard neonatal follow-up). Parents of high-risk infants (n=236) will be recruited from seven NICUs across three Canadian provinces. Intervention participants are assigned a nurse navigator who will provide the intervention for 12 months. Outcomes are measured at baseline, 6 weeks, 4, 12 and 18 months. The primary outcome measure is the total score of the Parenting Stress Index Fourth Edition Short Form at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include parental mental health, empowerment and health-related quality of life for calculation of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). A cost-effectiveness analysis will examine the incremental cost of CCENT versus usual care per QALY gained. Qualitative interviews will explore parent and healthcare provider experiences with the intervention. Ethics and dissemination Research ethics approval was obtained from Clinical Trials Ontario, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Ethics Board (REB), The Hospital for Sick Children REB, UBC Children’s and Women’s REB and McGill University Health Centre REB. Results will be shared with Canadian level III NICUs, neonatal follow-up programmes and academic forums. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Registry ( NCT03350243 ).

Purpose: Identify parent-focused transition practices for parents of children born preterm/acutely ill when transitioning from Neonatal Follow-Up Programs (NFUP) to Children's Treatment Centers or Networks (CTCN). Methods: NFUP and CTCN health-care providers participated in an online survey and qualitative interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data underwent conventional content analysis. Results: 60 participants (17 sites) from diverse health disciplines completed the survey, and 14 (from 11 of 17 sites) participated in a follow-up interview. Enablers to transition included knowledgeable practitioners, shared services, and family engagement; although not present across all sites. Barriers commonly reported were a lack of time, understanding of roles, and parent engagement. Conclusion: Research study findings highlight the need to improve and bridge NFUP to CTCN parent-focused transition practices. Recommendations for next actions steps include improved cross-sector communication, bridging sectors through enhanced service provision, and moving from information provision to family engagement.

Generating rich data from interviews for a qualitative study can be difficult to operationalize; especially when difficulties establishing rapport, power imbalances, and participant factors threaten the interview process and quality of data. The aim of this methods article is to (a) discuss the value of incorporating visual elicitation tools or tasks within semistructured or in-depth qualitative interviews to enhance the depth of data generated and (b) provide a specific example of how this is planned and executed within the context of an applied qualitative health research study.

Generating rich data from interviews for a qualitative study can be difficult to operationalize; especially when difficulties establishing rapport, power imbalances, and participant factors threaten the interview process and quality of data. The aim of this methods article is to (a) discuss the value of incorporating visual elicitation tools or tasks within semistructured or in-depth qualitative interviews to enhance the depth of data generated and (b) provide a specific example of how this is planned and executed within the context of an applied qualitative health research study.

Inequitable access to health care, social inequities, and racist and discriminatory care has resulted in the trend toward poorer health outcomes for Indigenous infants and their families when compared to non-Indigenous families in Canada. How Indigenous mothers experience care during an admission of their infant to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has implications for future health-seeking behaviors which may influence infant health outcomes. Nurses are well positioned to promote positive health care interactions and improve health outcomes by effectively meeting the needs of Indigenous families. This qualitative study was guided by interpretive description and the Two-Eyed Seeing framework and aimed to understand how Indigenous mothers experience accessing and using the health care system for their infants. Data were collected by way of interviews and a discussion group with self-identifying Indigenous mothers of infants less than two years of age living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Data underwent thematic analysis, identifying nursing strategies to support positive health care interactions and promote the health and wellness of Indigenous infants and their families. Building relationships, providing holistic care, and taking a trauma-informed approach to the involvement of child protection services are three key strategies that nurses can use to positively impact health care experiences for Indigenous families.