The Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale and the bedside nurse's assessment of neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of an objective measure of pain, agitation and sedation using the Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) compared with nursing bedside assessment. STUDY DESIGN: Neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit over a 6-month period were eligible. Pain and sedation were assessed with N-PASS, and a subjective questionnaire was administered to the bedside nurse. RESULT: A total of 218 neonates were eligible (median: gestational age 34.6 weeks, age at assessment 7 days). N-PASS pain score correlated significantly with both nurses' pain score (Spearman coefficient (r)=0.37; P<0.001) and agitation score (r=0.56; P<0.001). N-PASS sedation score correlated with nurses' sedation score (r=-0.39; P<0.001). Adjusting for gestational age, day of life, intrauterine drug exposure and use of high frequency ventilation only slightly attenuated the correlations (r=0.36, 0.55 and -0.31, respectively). CONCLUSION: The N-PASS captures nursing assessment of pain, agitation and sedation in this broad population and provides a quantitative assessment of subjective descriptions that often drives patient therapy.

The new 6-unit individualized curriculum for pediatric residents: the perspective of neonatology fellowship program directors.

OBJECTIVE: Starting in 2013, all pediatric residents entering fellowship must be provided six educational units whose structure is to be determined by their individual career plans. We sought to determine whether (1) neonatology fellowship program directors (PDs) consistently identify certain weaknesses among incoming fellows and (2) neonatology fellowship PDs agree on the most beneficial activities in which pediatric residents should participate to improve preparation for entry into neonatology fellowships. STUDY DESIGN: We sent a 21-question survey focused on the structure and implementation of the 6-unit curriculum to all members of the Organization of Neonatology Training Program Directors. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of PDs responded. Seventy-five percent cited insufficient procedural skills as the primary weakness of incoming fellows. More than 80% rated additional training in clinical neonatology, including procedural and resuscitation training, as 'beneficial' or 'highly beneficial'. In contrast, fewer than 40% of PDs gave the same positive ratings to activities broadly focused on scholarship. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the survey may help guide pediatric residency programs as they undertake development of these new curricular initiatives for individual residents entering neonatology.