Name_______________________________ Date______________

NEWBORN / NICU CLINICAL PREPARATION NURS 424 Required Written Clinical Assignment

Completion of this document will assist in preparation for patient care in the newborn nursery and your observational experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This assignment is to be hand-written and must be submitted to your clinical instructor at the beginning of your Newborn or NICU day, which ever is scheduled first. Give REFERENCES.

1. List the normal ranges for heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature in the newborn

2. Identify two causes for respiratory distress in a newborn during the transitional phase.

3. Identify at least three nursing interventions appropriate for the care of a newborn who exhibits respiratory distress.

4. Name two medications that are required to be given to the newborn within the first hour of life. Include the rationale (indication) for administration of each of these medications. Explain how these two medications are administered. Give specific steps.

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5. A newborn is having difficulty maintaining a normal temperature at two hours of age. Identify at least three nursing interventions that will assist with thermoregulation in this infant.

6. If a newborn is breastfeeding how often should the infant feed?

If an infant is bottle-feeding, how often should this newborn be fed and how much?

7. Differentiate why an infant should be given Hepatitis Immune Globulin (HBIG) or Hepatitis B vaccine? Which immunization is more important if a mom is Hep B positive?

8. What is the opioid antagonist that is administered to the newborn if it is showing signs of respiratory distress related to recent administration of a narcotic to the mother during labor? (Examples: recent epidural or IV analgesia)

9. Identify five criteria used to assess gestational age in the newborn. (characteristics of preterm vs. term infants)

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10. Necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) is an acute inflammatory disease that affects the GI mucosa of the neonate. Causative factors are uncertain but it does seem to occur in neonates whose GI tract has had some vascular compromise. (A) What are 3 factors that seem to play an important role in the development of NEC?

(B) What are the signs of NEC that the nurse should observe for when assessing the neonate?

11. What is gastroschisis and how is this condition treated prior to surgical repair?

12. When an infant is in NICU, we must consider the environment they are surrounded by as well as their development and ability to bond. We provide the appropriate positioning, reduce inappropriate stimuli, and notice the infant’s communication of its needs. Parents are encouraged to perform kangaroo care with their infant. What is kangaroo care and how does it work?

EL - 2011

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