Neonatal Nursing & Family-Centered Care

I wanted to know which graphs/charts are you using in your unit to decide for phototherapy (Single / multiple ) or exchange tansfusion ? Are you using weight based or Gestational Age based charts ? Are you using the NICE guidelines ( http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG98/Guidance/pdf/English ) ? For a term neonate 3,5 kg - 4 days old what is your cut of for starting phototherapy ? Thanks

Hello Netters, i wonder what cord care practices are currently standard in your hospitals at the moment? Is anyone using alcohol and or other antimicrobials like chlorhexidine on a regular basis, or do you tend to use only sterile water with or without soap? If you don`t use any of the agents listed above, what do you use and how? If you do cord care this or that way, how often do you do cord care per day / week? Most interestingly why. Any references?

a rat in the holy family hospital in rawalpindi the twin city of pakistan capital climbed up the cot in the nicu and nibbled the face of the baby esp around the face and nose which looks badly wounded.these rats are found all over the country hospitals where they live in the open drainage systems and may undoubtedly feed on human surgical wastes which is not systematicly disposed in most hospitals.they grow to very large sizes and large numbers.govt took action against doctors and midwife.

We are looking at an assessment tool to identify patients at high risk for developing pressure injuries in the NICU. Has anyone use the Neonatal Skin Risk Assessment Scale? Do you find it helpful? What interventions (skin bundles) do you implement for your high risk patients (turns, specialty mattress, etc). Thank you.

I am in the process of developing a protocol about premies skin care. I wonderd if anyone would like to share their experience and practice with me. Thank you

The mortality data is encouraging however the morbidity data are still an area for alarm. Especially the morbidity in babies with birth weight more than 1 kg. For this weight group, we usually feel confident of a very good outcome. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22614775 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/6/1019.long

I am revising our admission policy to NICU, Can any one share their policy or tell me what is the cut off for gestational age and weight for admission to NICU. We currently have cut off <35weeks and <2Kg. I just want to know what others are doing in admitting Babies to NICU regarding gestational age and weight. Thanks

Neonatal falls is an event which should never occur in any hospital. Though most of us presume that neonatal falls can never happen but unfortunately they do happen. LINK http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/2/e277.full.pdf+html There is a very nice article discussing this issue and making recommendations to prevent neonatal falls. I found this article very informative. LINK http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ijped/2010/547528.pdf Have you had a neonatal fall in your hospital? Could you share the circumstances of the fall.

We are in the process of revising our policy regarding monitoring of those newborns at risk for hypoglycemia i.e.- LGA, IDM,IUGR, SGA, post dates, near term, etc. Trying to get a feel for policies at other hospitals.