YSP Health Resources

To: Dr. Hubnik; YSP Health Resources CEO

From: Philippa Machalicek; NICU RN
Yessica Garcia, NICU RN
Shiann Ashbrook; NICU RN
Subject: The Zaky; Infant comfort and Security
Date: November 2, 2015

Purpose
The purpose of this memo is to discuss the use of the Zaky in
the NICU. We are pressing the use of this device to recreate the
bond that is lost between a mother and her baby due to being
unable to hold and care for the babies while they are in the NICU.

Introduction
The Zaky is a new device that originated from the Australian
hospitals and NICUs. Some of these hospitals in Australia are the
Royal North Shore Hospital, the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Mercy
Hospital for women, the Mater Mothers Hospital, and the Central
Coast Local Health Hospital (Carr). The Zaky is an arm and hand
shaped pillow that is used to help improve the overall comfort and
health of premature babies who are too delicate to be held. The
issue we are currently experiencing is that we are still using the
outdated method of swaddling the babies which can be very harmful
to them. This issue is occurring because the babies are being
wrapped too tightly or improperly and they become agitated and
sometimes are even harmed. At the moment there is little that can
be done to comfort the babies aside from swaddling them and
giving them occasional, minimal contact without harming them. Due
to the excessive number of machines and tubes the babies have to
be on it can even be impossible to swaddle them giving them little
to no support or comfort. This problem will affect YSP Health
resources because women are leaving the hospital with babies who
are disconnected and some even leave the hospitals with life-long

complications because of their injuries caused from swaddling. We

believe that this product will help ensure a decrease in infant
injuries and possibly reduce the rate of infant deaths. This will allow
the hospital to keep its trustworthiness and reputation. It is also a
dual purpose device that has been used in other hospitals with
patients who have undergone surgeries. It is used to relieve pain
and provide a sense of comfort through the healing process. The
injuries that occur during or after the babies leave the hospital due
to improper swaddling can also affect the nurses of the NICU. These
injuries effect the nurses because the mothers can unintentionally
harm their babies while trying to care for and connect with them.
The mothers could also accidentally pull a tube or IV out from the
baby while trying to wrap them up. This makes the already difficult
job of keeping the premature babies unharmed and alive even more
difficult and stressful for the nurses of the NICU.

Proposed Tasks
1. Determine basic knowledge on the use of the Zaky in the NICU.
2. Determine the hospitals use of the Zaky.
3. Gather and complete the preliminary research; studied the
positive effects of the Zaky and its history.
4. Gather and complete the secondary research; research done
on databases and blogs as well as the Zaky official website and
the Technical Communications book.
5. Gather and complete the primary research; surveys taken to
Harris Southwest, Cooks Children, and Hugely Health.
6. Compose the research proposal.
7. Submit the research proposal.
8. Compose the progress report.
9. Submit the progress report.
10.
Create the outline of the research report.
11.
Compose the research report.
12.
Submit the research report.

Schedule
TASK

START DATE

END DATE

1
2
3

26 Oct. 2015
28 Oct. 2015
28 Oct. 2015

30 Oct. 2015
30 OCT. 2015
30 Oct. 2015

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

28 Oct. 2015
2 Nov. 2015
26 Oct. 2015
2 Nov. 2015
9 Nov. 2015
11 Nov. 2015
13 Nov. 2015
16 Nov. 2015
23 Nov. 2015

8 Nov. 2015
8 Nov. 2015
2 Nov. 2015
2 Nov. 2015
11 Nov. 2015
11 Nov. 2015
13 Nov. 2015
23 Nov. 2015
23 Nov. 2015

Experience
Shiann: I have wanted to be a nurse as long as I can remember. I
have pictures of me when I was still in elementary school dressed
up as a nurse and taking care of my dolls. I decided I wanted to be
in labor and delivery during a high school project when I job
shadowed a NICU nurse at Cooks Children in Ft Worth. At that point
I knew I wanted to work with babies and I decided on labor and
delivery after I started college.
Yessica: I first became interested in the nursing field when I was in
high school and my aunt was studying to be a nurse in Mexico.
Another thing that made me want to peruse being a nurse was my
sister. She was born with a heart murmur that has given her
complications her whole life. I want to be able to take care of people
just like I helped take care of her. I am interested in the NICU
because I have a passion for babies and helping save lives.
Philippa: I have participated in the LVN program where I shadowed
nurses in the NICU which is where I first experienced the Zaky being
used. I am interested in this field because I love working with
families and their babies and it has always been my passion. Being a
mother of eight I love to do anything I can to help out other mothers
during the difficult time in the NICU. I also took care of my father
who was in a nursing home. During this time he had eighteen
strokes. This is what drove me to get back into to school so I could
help save lives.
Our Group: We are all interested in this field because we have a
passion for taking care of babies and their parents, whether it is in
the NICU or labor and delivery. We are all currently working at
getting our BSNs so that we can pursue this dream.

Works Cited
Carr, -T. (2007-2015). What Experts Say in America. Retrieved from
The Zaky: http://www.thezaky.net.au/