Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN
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J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs · May 1997
Metabolic bone disease in very-low-birth-weight infants: assessment, prevention, and treatment by neonatal nurse practitioners.
To describe the current practice of neonatal nurse practitioners in assessing skeletal health and preventing and treating metabolic bone disease in very-low-birth-weight infants. ⋯ Neonatal nurse practitioners underestimate the incidence of metabolic bone disease. Parenteral calcium and phosphorous are given but in quantities that differ from the recommended ratio. Most neonatal nurse practitioners use formulas made for premature infants and add powdered fortifier to expressed breast milk. Although physical therapy is prescribed, more research on its effect on bone mineralization is warranted before this practice is recommended without reservation.