Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses
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Establishing vascular access is a common neonatal intensive care unit procedure. The extended dwell peripheral intravenous (EPIV) catheter is a 6-cm and 8-cm silicone catheter for peripheral vein insertion, which is a newer vascular access device than peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter. Extended dwell peripheral intravenous catheters have been widely used in adults but evidence in neonates is lacking. ⋯ These data provide a baseline for future studies to explore the efficacy and effectiveness of EPIV catheter in the neonates.
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The approach to intrapartum and postnatal management of an infant born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) in the delivery room (DR) has changed several times over the last few decades, leading to confusion and anxiety among health care providers (nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, midwives, and physicians). This article provides state-of-the-art insight into the evidence or lack thereof for the changes in guidelines. ⋯ Need to evaluate effects of discontinuing the practice of tracheal suctioning in nonvigorous infants on the incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome and neonatal mortality.
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Working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be both rewarding and stressful. Stressors can outweigh satisfiers, leading to job dissatisfaction and turnover. Nurse retention remains a problem, particularly for nurses within the first year of employment. ⋯ Attention to staffing patterns is paramount. Team-building activities may help foster mutual respect and collegiality among the nursing staff and between disciplines. Research investigating creative staffing patterns would be helpful. Interprofessional research may also reduce stressors and enhance team performance.
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Comparative Study
Comparing N-PASS and NIPS: Improving Pain Measurement in the Neonate.
Proper assessment of pain is essential to allow for safe and compassionate care of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) used in an urban level IV NICU addresses acute pain but may not adequately measure chronic neonatal pain. ⋯ Further research evaluating guided management of acute and chronic pain scores on the N-PASS would aid hospital policies on therapies for neonatal pain.