YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY

Centofanti School of Nursing

NURS 4832 Nursing Care of Children and Families

NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU)

Objectives:

1. Recognize the specialized nursing care needs of premature infants:

protection from infection, thermoregulation, hydration, skin care, nutritional
needs, environmental stimulation.

2. Identify the physical assessment variations of premature infants compared to

full-term infants. Complete the NICU case study.

3. Identify the role of the nurse as part of the interdisciplinary team in meeting
special needs of infants in the NICU.

4. Complete and submit the NICU Case Study Sheet, found on the course Blackboard site

Preparation:

Students are required to prepare prior to the experience by viewing the following
link--Please click on all six sub-links.
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=caring-for-babies-in-
the-nicu-90-P02344

Students are to arrive wearing their laundered YSU uniform. Students are to
arrive in the NICU 15 minutes before the experience in order to have ample time
to perform a 3 minute handwashing scrub according to the NICU protocol and
receive instructions from the NICU educator or charge nurse. When leaving the
NICU for breaks, a cover gown is required to be worn and tied in the back.

Each student will be assigned to a NICU nurse. You may assist in basic care
(e.g. vital signs, bathing, feedings), but you are not permitted to give medications.

Students are encouraged go to all Code Pink deliveries with the team and
observe this high risk delivery and transfer of a neonate into the NICU from the
Delivery Room. (if applicable to each facility)

This clinical experience is not optional and students are expected to remain for
the entire experience. If you are unable to attend you must call 330-729-4250
and ask for the NICU to inform the clinical nurse manager of your absence.

Akron Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care at

St. Elizabeth Hospital Boardman Hospital
8401 Market St.
Youngstown, OH 44512
Kaylee Senvisky
NICU Clinical Experience

After going to the special care nursery, I was really looking forward to my time at

the NICU this week. The kids in the NICU needs constant care and supervision by a

registered nurse. Often times they would cry and then their oxygen levels would drop

which requires immediate attention from the nurse. The nurses usually only have up to

three patients so then they can adequately care for each pre- mature baby that is there.

The nurse that I followed for the beginning of the clinical only had one baby for the last

four hours of her shift. With these babies, we have to be very careful not to expose them

to a lot of bacteria because their immune system is so fragile. In the NICU, there is a lot

of hand washing and sanitizing of hands and countertops to prevent the spread of germs

to the premature baby. Skin care is also very important for these babies. Every three

hours, during an assessment the nurse will rotate the pulse ox sites and the baby is

rotated. By doing this, it prevents the baby from getting pressure injuries. The babies in

the NICU that are in an isolette are in a temperature-controlled bassinet to help them

regulate their body temperature. One of the babies I cared for during my time there, was

on donor breast milk. I did not even know that this was a thing. I think it is great that

moms will selflessly donate their milk in order to provide adequate nutrition for another

baby. The nurse allowed me to help prepare and start the feed for the baby through their

NG tube. I learned how to prime the line of the tube and start the pump which helps to

regulate the feed. All of these things such as skin protection, body temperature regulation,

nutrition, and the prevention of disease is just a few of the ways that nurse help to provide

care for babies in the NICU.

The difference in the assessment of babies in the special care nursery is the same

as those that are in the NICU. However, the difference between a full-term infant and a
premature infant varies in some ways. Some of those include a difference in vital sign

measurements, assessment of fontanels, capillary refill, and many more. Also, as the baby

becomes a full-term infant the assessment of behavior varies. A major difference between

premature and full-term infants is the size of the baby. A baby has to be 4 pounds to even

be considered to leave the NICU. The baby also has to be able to swallow and suck. The

ability for the baby to swallow and suck usually comes around 33 weeks gestational age.

So by this I mean, that there are multiple milestones that the premature baby has to pass

in order to graduate and progress to being a full term infant.

The nurse’s interaction with each other reminded me of what I experienced in the

pediatric emergency room. Everyone was very willing to help each other. When one

nurse was busy their coworkers would help out with the care that was needed at that time.

The nurse explained to me that there works environment was amazing and encouraging.

It was amazing to hear how positive their coworkers are to each other. The nurses all

played a crucial role in these babies lifetime success. Unfortunately, premature babies are

already behind compared to full term infants. So therefore, the care that is provided from

the NICU nurses gives these babies the extra push that they need to be successful later in

life.

Overall, my time in the NICU was very beneficial for my pediatric clinical

experience. I feel like I learned the most at this offsite about caring for children then I

have at any other one. I really enjoyed the clinical and I may consider doing my

preceptorship there for my senior year.