Background: The quality standards of neonatal care provide a basis for what is expected
and required, support the monitoring and measurement of performance against measures of best
practice in order to identify priorities for improvement and provide information on how best
practice can be used to support high quality neonatal care. The aim of this study was to assess the
effect of staff development program on nurses' performance regarding quality standards of
neonatal care. Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in carrying out the study. Setting:
The study was conducted at the Neonatal Care Units at Mansoura University Children's Hospital,
Mansoura General Hospital and Mansoura Hospital for Health Insurance. Subjects: A convenient
sample of 103 nurses working in neonatal intermediate care units in the previously mentioned
study settings. Tools: Data were collected using the following tools; self- administered
questionnaire sheet to assess nurses' knowledge about neonatal care standards and standardized
practical observational checklist to assess the nurses' application of neonatal care standards in the
intermediate care units (Level II). Results: The study results revealed that there was statistical
significant difference in relation to nurses' knowledge and practices regarding standards of
neonatal care in the intermediate care units pre, immediate post and at follow up of staff
development program implementation. It was found that more than four fifth of nurses had poor
knowledge before program implementation, while, immediately after the program and at follow
up, 98% and 94.2% of them had good knowledge respectively. All of nurses achieved
incompetent practice before the program implementation, while 36% and 16.5% of them achieved
competent practice immediate post program and at follow up respectively. Conclusion: There
was a significant positive effect of staff development program on nurses' knowledge, while, there
was a limited positive effect on their practices and on the achievement of quality standards of
neonatal care. Recommendations: Emphasize on the importance of conducting periodical
continuing staff development programs for neonatal nurses to improve their performance, and to
achieve the quality standards of neonatal care.