Date of Award

Summer 2026

Abstract

Background: Timely and effective neonatal resuscitation depends on the immediate availability and functionality of emergency equipment. Within labor and delivery settings, equipment failures or delays in obtaining necessary supplies and equipment can be detrimental to neonatal health outcomes. Standardized equipment verification processes have been recommended to improve equipment readiness and reduce preventable delays in care provision during neonatal emergencies.

Local Problem: Baseline observational data within the labor and delivery microsystem identified inconsistencies in equipment verification processes, resulting in variable equipment readiness across the microsystem. Staff reported variations in room preparation, safety checks, and concerns related to missing or malfunctioning equipment in times of need. Current practices related to equipment preparedness lacked standardization, creating opportunities for missed safety checks and delays in patient care.

Methods: This quality improvement project utilized the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) framework within a community hospital labor and delivery unit. The intervention consisted of implementing a standardized bedside equipment checklist to improve the completion and accountability of equipment safety checks. Process outcomes were measured through checklist completion audits and pre- and post-implementation nurse surveys that assessed perceived confidence in equipment readiness, workload burden, and the usability of the intervention.

Results: Following implementation, bedside checklist compliance reached 86.8%, demonstrating successful adoption of the intervention. Post-implementation survey data indicated nurses perceived the checklist as easy to use, minimally disruptive to workflow, and beneficial in improving confidence in neonatal resuscitation equipment readiness and patient safety.

Conclusions: Implementation of a standardized bedside equipment checklist improved equipment verification compliance and enhanced nurses’ perceptions of equipment preparedness while maintaining workflow efficiency within the labor and delivery microsystem. The project’s findings support the use of standardized equipment verification systems to strengthen patient safety processes. Continued compliance auditing, ongoing education, and expansion of the checklist to other obstetric areas may improve equipment readiness and support long-term sustainability of the intervention.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

First Advisor

Deborah Simonton, EdD, MSN, RN, CNL

Second Advisor

Madeline Bouchard, MSN, RN

College or School

CHHS

Department or Program

Direct Entry Master's In Nursing

Degree Name

Other

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