Just a few tips for nursing students rotating through a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. After precepting students for a few semesters, here are my suggestions.
Before the shift:
- Study necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). What are the risk factors? How do we prevent, diagnose and treat these?
- Understand why infants of diabetic mothers, small for gestational age (SGA) infants and preterm babies are all at risk for hypoglycemia soon after birth.
- Read up on oxygen toxicity in preterm babies. What is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)? Why are we conservative in cranking up the oxygen on preemies?
During the shift:
- Bring a comfy pair of shoes. Don't fall into the trap of sitting down too much. We're more likely to involve you in potential learning experiences if you look interested and active.
- Ask to read your baby's progress notes (the daily notes from the physician). In particular, computer-generated progress notes often go by systems and are particularly helpful in understanding your baby's treatment priorities.
- Wash or foam your hands frequently - before and after every baby, and any other time that you're thinking about it.
- Focus. Students generally aren't assigned to the sickest babies, and you may not even have the most interesting baby in the unit. Asking to look at the trisomy 18 kiddo in the next pod is okay, but make sure that you don't miss out on a learning experience with your own baby.
Questions? Comment or email me!
Before the shift:
- Study necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). What are the risk factors? How do we prevent, diagnose and treat these?
- Understand why infants of diabetic mothers, small for gestational age (SGA) infants and preterm babies are all at risk for hypoglycemia soon after birth.
- Read up on oxygen toxicity in preterm babies. What is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)? Why are we conservative in cranking up the oxygen on preemies?
During the shift:
- Bring a comfy pair of shoes. Don't fall into the trap of sitting down too much. We're more likely to involve you in potential learning experiences if you look interested and active.
- Ask to read your baby's progress notes (the daily notes from the physician). In particular, computer-generated progress notes often go by systems and are particularly helpful in understanding your baby's treatment priorities.
- Wash or foam your hands frequently - before and after every baby, and any other time that you're thinking about it.
- Focus. Students generally aren't assigned to the sickest babies, and you may not even have the most interesting baby in the unit. Asking to look at the trisomy 18 kiddo in the next pod is okay, but make sure that you don't miss out on a learning experience with your own baby.
Questions? Comment or email me!
