The newborn phase, encompassing the first few months of life, is a period of critical adaptation as infants transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life. This period is marked by significant physiological adjustments as newborns begin to independently manage vital functions like breathing, feeding, digestion, and waste elimination. Infancy continues to be a time of rapid development throughout the first year, characterized by the acquisition of new skills and increased interaction with their environment.
Key physical milestones during this period include consistent weight gain, visual and auditory development, and the refinement of senses such as smell, taste, and touch. Reflexes and motor development are also crucial areas of progress in the newborn.
The initial week of life is particularly vulnerable, with a high percentage of neonatal deaths occurring within this timeframe. Newborn mortality is frequently associated with complications from preterm birth, intrapartum events like birth asphyxia, infections acquired during or shortly after birth, and congenital anomalies.
In this article, we will delve into newborn care plan diagnoses, providing a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals.
The Nursing Process in Newborn Care
Nurses play a pivotal role in the evaluation and continuous monitoring of neonates, which is fundamental to newborn assessment and effective care planning. A critical component of this initial assessment is the Apgar score, a rapid evaluation tool used immediately after birth. The Apgar score assesses vital signs including respiratory effort, heart rate, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color, providing an immediate snapshot of the newborn’s condition. Subsequent assessments include detailed measurements of length and weight, along with necessary laboratory tests to further evaluate the newborn’s health status.
Beyond physical assessments, nurses are essential as educators and sources of support for new parents. As families navigate the transition to parenthood, nurses offer guidance on crucial aspects of newborn care, including feeding techniques, bathing practices, and understanding and responding to the newborn’s cues. This education empowers parents and fosters confidence in their caregiving abilities.
Newborn Nursing Care Plans: Addressing Key Diagnoses
Once a nurse identifies specific nursing diagnoses relevant to newborn care, nursing care plans become indispensable. These plans are structured to prioritize assessments and interventions, setting both short-term and long-term goals for the newborn’s care. The following sections provide detailed examples of nursing care plans tailored for common newborn diagnoses.
Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements in Newborns
Newborns are particularly vulnerable to imbalanced nutrition, a condition that can stem from various factors including insufficient breast milk intake, underlying chronic conditions, infections, environmental influences, genetic predispositions, neglect, or inadequate parental knowledge regarding infant feeding.
Nursing Diagnosis: Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements
Related Factors:
- Insufficient breast milk intake
- Lack of parental knowledge regarding newborn nutritional needs
- Inadequate breast milk production
- Ineffective breastfeeding techniques
- Interrupted breastfeeding schedules
- Presence of underlying health conditions
- Prematurity
As Evidenced By:
- Body weight below the ideal percentile range for age and gender
- Suboptimal linear growth (height) for age and gender
- Inadequate head circumference growth for age and gender
- Poor neonatal weight gain or weight loss
- Constipation or infrequent bowel movements
- Reduced urine output
- Pale mucous membranes indicating potential dehydration or anemia
- Lethargy or decreased activity levels
- Muscle hypotonia or reduced muscle tone
Expected Outcomes:
- The newborn will demonstrate consistent weight gain of at least 5 to 7 ounces per week during the first three months of life, indicating adequate nutritional intake and absorption.
- The newborn will exhibit clinical signs of sufficient nutrition and hydration, evidenced by 6-8 wet diapers daily, regular sleep patterns, and alertness during waking periods, reflecting proper bodily functions and hydration status.
Assessments:
1. Evaluate the frequency and duration of breastfeeding sessions to determine feeding patterns.
Breastfeeding frequency is a critical indicator of nutrient intake. For optimal nutrition, newborns should be fed 8-12 times within a 24-hour period during the first month. Breastfed infants typically nurse every 2 to 4 hours, with each session lasting 10 to 15 minutes per breast. This frequency ensures they receive adequate calories and hydration to support their rapid growth and development.
2. Assess the newborn’s feeding ability to identify potential barriers to adequate nutrition.
Newborns, especially those who are premature or ill, have increased nutritional and energy demands. They may face challenges in oral feeding due to factors such as immature gastrointestinal systems and difficulties coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Recognizing these challenges is crucial for tailoring feeding strategies.
3. Determine the parents’ understanding of newborn feeding cues to ensure responsive feeding practices.
Educating parents about infant hunger cues is vital for promoting responsive feeding. Early hunger cues include lip smacking, tongue protrusion, rooting movements, and bringing hands to the mouth. Crying is a late sign of hunger and can indicate significant distress. Early recognition of cues allows for timely feeding and prevents undernutrition.
Interventions:
1. Educate the mother on effective breastfeeding positions and latch techniques to optimize feeding efficiency.
Addressing breastfeeding challenges starts with proper technique. Nurses should assess for any maternal breast issues such as mastitis or engorgement that may hinder breastfeeding. Guiding mothers to find comfortable breastfeeding positions is essential for relaxation and let-down reflex. Observe the mother-infant dyad during feeding to identify and correct any latch difficulties. A proper latch is painless and involves the nipple positioned high and deep in the infant’s mouth, with a wide mouth opening, outward turned lower lip, chin touching the breast, and nose close to the breast. Audible sucking and swallowing sounds indicate effective feeding.
2. Regularly monitor the newborn’s weight, growth patterns, and developmental milestones to track nutritional status.
Weight, growth, and development are key indicators of nutritional adequacy. Newborns typically experience a physiological weight loss of up to 10% after birth, regaining it within the first two weeks. Consistent weight gain of 5-7 ounces per week is expected until about four months of age, after which the rate of weight gain naturally slows. Monitoring these parameters helps in early detection of nutritional deficiencies.
3. Instruct parents on breast milk expression and safe storage methods if direct breastfeeding is not feasible, ensuring the newborn receives breast milk benefits.
Expressed breast milk offers a viable alternative when direct breastfeeding is challenging. Pumping allows mothers to provide their infants with the nutritional and immunological benefits of breast milk. Proper techniques for expression and storage are crucial to maintain milk quality and safety. Education should include guidelines on pump hygiene, milk storage containers, refrigeration, and freezing.
4. Continuously monitor the newborn’s hydration status and overall health to promptly address any issues affecting nutrition.
Hydration is intrinsically linked to newborn nutrition and overall well-being. Dehydration can exacerbate nutritional imbalances and lead to serious complications. Regularly assess hydration status by checking fontanelles, skin turgor, mucous membranes, and monitoring urine and stool output. Lethargy and weakness in newborns can also be indicative of inadequate nutrition and should prompt further evaluation.
5. Connect families with relevant community resources, such as the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, to provide ongoing support.
Access to resources can significantly impact a family’s ability to provide adequate nutrition for their newborn. WIC, a federally funded program, offers food assistance, nutritional counseling, and breastfeeding support to eligible low-income women and children. Connecting families with such resources ensures they receive comprehensive support to address nutritional needs.
A mother lovingly breastfeeds her newborn baby, highlighting the natural and nurturing process of infant feeding and the importance of proper latch and positioning for effective milk transfer and infant comfort.
Risk for Hypothermia in Newborns
Newborns are at significant risk for hypothermia due to their large surface area relative to their body volume. This ratio is even more pronounced in low-birth-weight newborns, leading to rapid heat loss and increased susceptibility to hypothermia. The transition from the warm intrauterine environment to the cooler external environment further exacerbates this risk.
Nursing Diagnosis: Risk for Hypothermia
Related Factors:
- Large body surface area compared to body mass, increasing heat dissipation
- Limited subcutaneous fat, reducing thermal insulation
- Depleted or easily exhaustible brown fat stores, crucial for non-shivering thermogenesis
- Minimal white fat reserves for insulation
- Thin epidermis, offering less resistance to heat loss
- Inability to shiver as a compensatory mechanism for heat production
- Presence of infectious processes potentially disrupting thermoregulation
- Impaired thermoregulation due to prematurity or illness
- Environmental factors, such as cold room temperatures
- Cesarean delivery, which may delay skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth
As Evidenced By:
A risk diagnosis is characterized by the absence of current signs and symptoms. Instead, interventions are preemptive, focused on preventing the potential problem from developing.
Expected Outcomes:
- The newborn will maintain a stable body temperature within the normal range (36.5°C to 37.5°C or 97.7°F to 99.5°F), indicating effective thermoregulation.
- Parents or caregivers will demonstrate understanding of hypothermia risks, prevention strategies, and appropriate responses to temperature changes in newborns, empowering them to maintain the newborn’s thermal stability at home.
Assessments:
1. Routinely monitor the newborn’s body temperature to detect early signs of hypothermia.
Accurate temperature measurement is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention. Rectal temperature measurement is generally recommended for newborns to ensure accuracy, especially in initial assessments. Educate parents and caregivers on the correct technique for temperature measurement and the importance of regular monitoring. A temperature below 97.7°F (36.5°C) is indicative of hypothermia and requires immediate attention.
2. Identify newborns with risk factors for hypothermia to implement targeted preventive measures.
Certain conditions elevate the risk of hypothermia in newborns. Low birth weight, prematurity, and impaired thermoregulation due to sepsis or neonatal abstinence syndrome increase vulnerability. Identifying these risk factors allows for proactive implementation of warming strategies and close temperature monitoring.
3. Monitor for signs of cold stress to prevent severe metabolic and physiological complications.
Cold stress occurs when a newborn’s body temperature drops, leading to metabolic and physiological imbalances. To generate heat, the newborn increases oxygen consumption and calorie expenditure. Prolonged cold stress can deplete energy reserves, impair growth, and lead to complications like hypoglycemia and respiratory distress. Early detection through temperature monitoring and observation of signs like lethargy, poor feeding, and acrocyanosis is crucial.
Interventions:
1. Ensure the newborn is thoroughly dried immediately after birth and kept wrapped in warm blankets to minimize evaporative heat loss.
Evaporation from wet skin is a significant cause of heat loss in newborns. Promptly drying the newborn after birth, especially the head, and swaddling them in pre-warmed blankets are essential steps to conserve body heat. Using warm, dry linens and hats helps to insulate the newborn effectively.
2. Implement heat loss barriers such as incubators, radiant warmers, and skin-to-skin contact to provide external warming.
Newborns, particularly preterm and low-birth-weight infants, often require external heat sources to maintain normothermia. Incubators and radiant warmers provide controlled warm environments. Skin-to-skin contact with the mother (kangaroo care) is highly effective in maintaining newborn temperature, stabilizing heart rate and breathing, and promoting bonding. Studies consistently show the benefits of skin-to-skin contact in preventing hypothermia.
3. Maintain a warm room environment to reduce convective heat loss.
The ambient room temperature significantly affects newborn heat loss. Newborns lack subcutaneous fat and cannot shiver effectively, making them highly susceptible to environmental temperature changes. Maintaining a room temperature within the thermoneutral zone (typically 72°F to 78°F or 22°C to 26°C) is vital, especially for bathing and procedures that expose the newborn. Newborns lose heat up to four times faster than adults, so ensuring a warm environment is crucial for all newborns, even healthy full-term infants.
4. Provide comprehensive education to parents and caregivers on hypothermia and hyperthermia prevention, empowering them to manage newborn temperature at home.
Parent education is key for ongoing newborn thermal management at home. Nurses should educate parents about the risks of both hypothermia and hyperthermia, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a stable thermal environment. Demonstrate and supervise essential care activities such as bathing, dressing, and swaddling. Instruct parents on how to monitor the newborn’s temperature, recognize signs of temperature instability, and take appropriate actions. This education should be reinforced before discharge and through postpartum follow-up.
A premature baby rests comfortably in an incubator, showcasing a controlled environment designed to maintain optimal temperature and humidity, vital for newborns, especially those born prematurely, to prevent hypothermia and support overall health.
Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange in Newborns
Impaired gas exchange in newborns can arise from delayed or inadequate adaptation to extrauterine life, congenital conditions, or acquired disorders such as lung infections that develop prenatally or postnatally.
Nursing Diagnosis: Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange
Related Factors:
- Low lung function and decreased lung compliance at birth
- Significantly increased metabolic rate demanding higher oxygen consumption
- Reduced functional residual capacity (FRC), limiting oxygen reserves
- Increased airway resistance due to mucus production or airway obstruction
- Cold stress, which increases oxygen demand and can impair respiratory function
As Evidenced By:
Similar to Risk for Hypothermia, Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange is a potential diagnosis where interventions focus on prevention before signs and symptoms manifest.
Expected Outcomes:
- The newborn will maintain arterial blood gas (ABG) values within normal limits, demonstrating effective respiratory function.
- The newborn will maintain peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) within the normal range (typically 95% to 100%), indicating adequate oxygenation.
- The newborn will exhibit no signs of respiratory distress, such as nasal flaring or chest wall retractions, confirming stable respiratory status.
Assessments:
1. Regularly assess the newborn’s respiratory status, including respiratory rate, depth, and pattern, to detect early indicators of respiratory compromise.
Respiratory assessment is fundamental to evaluating alveolar ventilation. Abnormal respiratory rates (tachypnea or bradypnea), shallow or labored breathing, or irregular patterns can indicate impaired gas exchange. Monitoring respiratory status helps determine the need for respiratory support, such as supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation.
2. Observe for symptoms of labored breathing, which are indicative of increased respiratory effort.
Signs of respiratory distress in newborns include nasal flaring, grunting (expiratory noise), chest wall retractions (inward pulling of the chest wall during inspiration), and cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin or mucous membranes). These symptoms suggest increased work of breathing and potential hypoxemia, requiring prompt intervention.
3. Review hemoglobin levels and arterial blood gas (ABG) results to evaluate oxygen-carrying capacity and gas exchange efficiency.
ABGs provide direct measurements of blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, reflecting the effectiveness of respiration and ventilation. Hemoglobin levels indicate the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen. Low PaO2 levels in ABGs may signify hypoxemia and the need for oxygen therapy or ventilatory support. Abnormal ABG values and low hemoglobin can guide respiratory management.
4. Evaluate the newborn caregivers’ knowledge of respiratory distress symptoms to ensure timely recognition and response at home.
Parent education on recognizing respiratory distress is crucial for early detection and intervention after discharge. Caregivers need to be aware of normal newborn respiratory patterns and signs of distress, including tachypnea, nasal flaring, apnea (pauses in breathing), cyanosis, noisy breathing (wheezing, stridor), grunting, and chest retractions. Educating parents empowers them to seek timely medical attention if these symptoms occur at home.
Interventions:
1. Elevate the head of the newborn’s bed slightly to optimize lung expansion and ventilation.
Positioning plays a key role in respiratory function. Elevating the head of the bed or placing the newborn in a semi-upright position promotes better chest expansion and diaphragmatic movement, facilitating improved ventilation. This position also aids in assessing for signs of respiratory distress more easily.
2. Suction the newborn’s airway as needed to clear secretions and maintain airway patency.
Newborns may not effectively clear airway secretions independently, especially if they are weak or have increased mucus production. Gentle suctioning, using a bulb syringe or suction catheter, removes mucus from the nasal and oral passages, ensuring a clear airway. Monitor pulse oximetry and vital signs before, during, and after suctioning to assess its effectiveness and the newborn’s tolerance.
3. Administer supplemental oxygen as prescribed to improve oxygenation and address hypoxemia.
Oxygen therapy is often necessary to correct hypoxemia and improve gas exchange. Oxygen can be delivered via nasal cannula, face mask, or hood, depending on the newborn’s needs and oxygen requirements. Continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation is essential during oxygen administration to maintain appropriate levels and prevent hyperoxia.
4. Ensure availability of equipment for emergency ventilation to manage potential respiratory failure.
Preparedness for respiratory emergencies is critical in newborn care. Emergency ventilation equipment, including bag-valve-mask (BVM) devices, endotracheal tubes (ET tubes) of appropriate sizes, laryngoscope, and suction equipment, should be readily accessible at the bedside. Regular checks of equipment functionality and staff training in emergency respiratory management are vital to ensure prompt and effective intervention in case of respiratory distress or failure.
A newborn infant in Bangladesh receives oxygen therapy, illustrating a common intervention for newborns experiencing respiratory distress and highlighting the importance of accessible respiratory support in neonatal care settings.
Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity in Newborns
Newborn skin is delicate and prone to common issues such as diaper rash and cradle cap. Education on preventive skin care and appropriate treatment of non-intact skin is vital to prevent infections and promote healthy skin integrity.
Nursing Diagnosis: Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity
Related Factors:
- Insufficient caregiver knowledge regarding newborn skin care and tissue integrity maintenance
- Malnutrition, compromising skin health and healing
- Fluid and electrolyte imbalances, affecting skin hydration and function
- Thermoregulation problems, leading to skin dryness or moisture-related damage
- Exposure to excessive moisture from urine, stool, or saliva
- Immunodeficiency, increasing susceptibility to skin infections
As Evidenced By:
As a risk diagnosis, there are no current signs or symptoms. Nursing interventions are focused on preventing skin breakdown and maintaining integrity.
Expected Outcomes:
- The newborn will maintain intact skin without signs of breakdown, irritation, or infection, demonstrating healthy skin integrity.
- Caregivers will verbalize understanding of newborn skin care principles and demonstrate appropriate interventions to promote and maintain skin health, ensuring consistent and effective skin care at home.
Assessments:
1. Systematically assess the infant’s skin characteristics and overall condition to identify potential skin problems early.
Comprehensive skin assessment is essential for early detection of potential or developing skin issues. Assess skin color, temperature, texture, turgor, and hydration status. Note any rashes, lesions, bruises, or areas of dryness or breakdown. Early identification allows for prompt implementation of preventive and therapeutic measures.
2. Evaluate the parents’ knowledge of proper newborn skin care practices to tailor education and support.
Assessing parental knowledge about newborn skin care is crucial for effective education. Determine their understanding of bathing frequency, diapering practices, product use, and sun protection. This assessment helps identify knowledge gaps and guides the development of individualized education plans to promote optimal skin care practices at home.
Interventions:
1. Recommend the use of appropriate, mild infant cleansers to maintain skin hygiene without causing irritation.
Maintaining clean and dry skin is fundamental for newborn skin health. Advise parents to use mild, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic cleansers specifically designed for infants. Bathing frequency should be limited to 2-3 times per week to prevent skin dryness, unless more frequent cleaning is needed for diaper changes or spit-up. Gentle cleansing helps remove irritants without stripping the skin of its natural oils.
2. Ensure diapers are changed promptly and frequently to minimize skin exposure to urine and feces.
Prolonged exposure to urine and feces can lead to irritant dermatitis (diaper rash). Advise parents to change diapers frequently, as soon as the newborn urinates or defecates. Use soft, absorbent diapers and avoid tight diapering. When cleaning the diaper area, use soft cloths and water or mild, fragrance-free wipes. Barrier creams containing zinc oxide can be used to protect the skin and treat redness.
3. Educate parents on limiting newborn sun exposure to prevent sunburn and skin damage.
Newborn skin is highly sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and prone to sunburn. Advise parents to minimize direct sun exposure, especially during peak sun hours (10 AM to 4 PM). When outdoors, dress newborns in protective clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves. Sunscreen use is generally not recommended for infants under six months unless sun avoidance is not possible; in such cases, a small amount of mineral-based sunscreen can be applied to small areas of exposed skin after consulting a pediatrician.
4. Advise against routine application of skin care products on newborn skin to avoid potential irritation or allergic reactions.
Newborn skin is highly absorbent and sensitive to chemicals and fragrances. Discourage the routine use of lotions, powders, and oils unless specifically indicated for a skin condition and recommended by a healthcare provider. Avoid products containing perfumes, dyes, and harsh chemicals, as these can irritate newborn skin. For preterm infants with very dry skin, small amounts of petroleum jelly may be used to help retain moisture, as advised by a healthcare professional.
5. Instruct parents on when to seek professional medical assistance for persistent or worsening skin conditions to ensure timely intervention.
Most newborn skin issues are minor and resolve with basic care. Educate parents to monitor skin conditions and seek medical advice if problems persist, worsen, or show signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, warmth, pain, drainage, or fever. Prompt medical attention can prevent complications and ensure appropriate treatment.
A mother attentively changes her newborn’s diaper, illustrating a routine yet crucial aspect of newborn care focused on maintaining hygiene and preventing skin irritation and diaper rash through frequent changes and proper cleaning.
Risk for Infection in Newborns
Newborns have an immature immune system, making them highly susceptible to infections, particularly in the first few months of life. This vulnerability necessitates vigilant infection prevention strategies.
Nursing Diagnosis: Risk for Infection
Related Factors:
- Immature immune system and inadequate acquired immunity
- Deficiency in neutrophils and specific immunoglobulins, key components of immune defense
- Environmental exposure to pathogens in healthcare settings and community
- Breaks in skin integrity from procedures or trauma, providing entry points for pathogens
- Traumatized tissues, which can be more susceptible to infection
- Decreased ciliary action in respiratory tract, reducing clearance of pathogens
As Evidenced By:
Risk for Infection is a preemptive diagnosis. Interventions are implemented to prevent infection before any signs or symptoms develop.
Expected Outcomes:
- Parents or caregivers will verbalize at least two effective infection prevention or risk reduction measures, demonstrating understanding of protective strategies.
- Parents or caregivers will demonstrate creating and maintaining a protected environment for the newborn, minimizing exposure to potential pathogens.
- The newborn will remain free from signs and symptoms of infection throughout the neonatal period, indicating successful infection prevention.
Assessments:
1. Identify contributing factors that increase the newborn’s susceptibility to infection to implement targeted preventive measures.
Risk factors for newborn infection include an immature immune system, prematurity, congenital defects, and maternal complications such as premature rupture of membranes (PROM) or delivery trauma. Newborns have lower levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, and IgD), which are crucial for fighting infections. Identifying these risk factors allows for focused infection prevention strategies.
2. Assess the newborn’s immune status, including history of passive immunity from mother and potential for active immunity development.
Newborns acquire passive immunity from maternal antibodies transferred across the placenta, providing temporary protection against diseases to which the mother has immunity. Breastfeeding further enhances passive immunity through immunoglobulins in breast milk. Assessing the newborn’s gestational age, maternal health history, and feeding method helps evaluate their initial immune status and guide strategies to bolster their defenses. Vaccination will eventually provide active immunity, but newborns rely heavily on passive immunity initially.
3. Monitor for subtle and overt symptoms of infection in newborns, as early detection is crucial for prompt treatment.
Early signs of infection in newborns can be subtle and nonspecific. Monitor for changes in feeding patterns (poor feeding, decreased intake), respiratory distress (tachypnea, apnea, grunting), temperature instability (fever or hypothermia), lethargy, irritability, prolonged or inconsolable crying, and skin changes (rash, jaundice). Prompt recognition of these symptoms is essential for initiating timely diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
Interventions:
1. Ensure strict adherence to infection control protocols and emphasize meticulous hand hygiene among all caregivers and visitors.
Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of infection prevention in healthcare settings and at home. Strict adherence to hand washing guidelines by all healthcare providers, parents, and visitors is paramount. This includes washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after contact with the newborn, and before any caregiving activity. Reinforce proper hand hygiene techniques through education and reminders.
2. Promote and encourage breastfeeding, if possible, to provide newborns with passive immunity through breast milk.
Breast milk is rich in immunoglobulins, particularly secretory IgA, which provides mucosal immunity and protects against various infections. Encourage breastfeeding as the optimal feeding method for newborns, unless medically contraindicated. Provide breastfeeding support and education to mothers to facilitate successful breastfeeding and maximize the immunological benefits for the newborn.
3. Screen caregivers and visitors for any signs of illness to prevent exposure and transmission of infections to the newborn.
Limiting exposure to sick individuals is crucial for protecting newborns from infections. Advise parents to avoid close contact with anyone exhibiting symptoms of illness, such as respiratory infections, fever, or rash. If visitors are unwell, they should postpone visits until they recover. Caregivers or visitors who must be in close proximity to the newborn should wear masks to minimize the risk of transmission.
4. Provide comprehensive health education to parents and caregivers about infection control measures at home and in public settings.
Educate parents and caregivers on essential infection control practices at home, including proper hand hygiene, safe formula preparation and feeding techniques, appropriate cleaning and disinfection of newborn items, and strategies to minimize exposure to infections in public places. Advise limiting public outings during the first few weeks of life, especially in crowded areas, and recommend ensuring that all caregivers and household contacts are up-to-date on recommended vaccinations. Provide written educational materials and demonstrations as needed to reinforce teaching and ensure understanding.
A nurse demonstrates proper handwashing technique at a clinic in Kibera, emphasizing the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing infections, especially in vulnerable populations like newborns, and highlighting the importance of accessible handwashing facilities in healthcare settings.
References
- Berman, A., Snyder, S., & Frandsen, G. (2016). Promoting Health from Conception Through Adolescence. In Kozier and Erb’s fundamentals of nursing: Concepts, practice, and process (10th ed., pp. 330-335). Prentice Hall.
- Doenges, M. E., Moorhouse, M. F., & Murr, A. C. (2019). Nurse’s pocket guide: Diagnoses, interventions, and rationales (15th ed.). F A Davis Company.
- Gallacher, D. J., Hart, K., & Kotecha, S. (2016). Common respiratory conditions of the newborn. Breathe, 12(1), 30-42. https://doi.org/10.1183/20734735.000716
- Nettina, S. M. (2019). Pediatric Primary Care. In Lippincott manual of nursing practice (11th ed., pp. 3223-3224). Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
- Silvestri, L. A., & CNE, A. E. (2019). Care of the Newborn. In Saunders comprehensive review for the NCLEX-RN examination (8th ed., pp. 810-826). Saunders.
