Neonatal units have been in existence for more than forty years and little attention has been given to the design of the neonatal unit. Preterm infants’ developmental outcomes may be directly related to the type of care and the environment where the infants spend their first couple of months of life. Recently, the sensory environment has been found to be a critical factor with long term outcomes associated with brain development in the preterm infant (White, 2004). Because of the infant’s immature neurological system, the infant is at high risk for complications associated with the stressors that occur in the environment the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU), the first home of the preterm infant (D’Agostino & Clifford, 1998).
This study was a comparative, descriptive, retrospective study. Variables of interest were mother’s ethnicity, socioeconomic status, her age and the infant’s gestational age, weight at birth, weight at discharge, and race. Infants were matched using gestational age.
There was no significant difference in neonatal outcomes associated with the environment where a neonate spends their first months. The environment of a preterm infant may have lasting effects on the outcomes associated with them. Education and research are needed to improve these outcomes. Hospitals are changing the neonatal environment which could be beneficial to the neonate, families, and staff.
