Neonatal network : NN
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Various medications are available for symptom management during palliative care of the neonate. Neonatal nurses are knowledgeable about the use of these agents as a part of curative care and should become familiar with them as an essential aspect of palliative care. Pharmacologic symptom management is only one facet of peaceful, pain-free, family-centered palliative care. For an overview of a complete protocol for end-of-life care for neonates and their families, review Catlin and Carter's article, "Creation of a Neonatal End-of-Life Palliative Care Protocol," which appeared in an earlier issue of Neonatal Network (Vol. 21, No. 4).
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Neonatal network : NN · Nov 2003
Comparative StudyOutcomes of developmental care in an Australian neonatal intensive care nursery.
To evaluate the outcomes of implementation of a developmental care model in an Australian tertiary NICU. ⋯ Infants receiving developmental care required less time on total parenteral nutrition, required less exogenous surfactant, and had less documented feeding intolerance. Changes were observed in ambience and in the use of space for providing parent-infant care. Also observed was the individualized expertise of nursing staff and of parents.
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Infant massage therapy is an inexpensive tool that should be utilized as part of the developmental care of the preterm infant. Nurses have been hesitant to begin massage therapy for fear of overstimulating the infant and because there has been insufficient research to prove its safety. ⋯ Parents of the preterm infant also benefit because infant massage enhances bonding with their child and increases confidence in their parenting skills. This article discusses the benefits and risks of massage for preterm infants and their families and explains how to implement massage therapy in the neonatal intensive care setting.