This study compared the balance between effort (E) and reward (R) among physicians and nurses working in pediatric (PED) and neonatal (NEO) Intensive Care Units. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 37 physicians and 20 nurses. The Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire was used. Statistically significant differences were not found among physicians (p>0.05) or nurses from ...

While hospitalized in neonatal units, preterm infants undergo various manipulations and procedures that have negative health consequences. The aim of this study was to describe the manipulations that preterm infants are subjected to over a 24-hour period in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). An observational, descriptive, exploratory study was conducted with 20 preterm infants who were film...

A new practice framework for clinicians has recently been issued by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health through their Ethics Advisory Committee. It deals with babies and children for whom intensive treatment may not be in their best interest. These are diYcult cases. Absolute certainty is rarely possible; there are inevitably issues of conscience and conflict, which add to the bur...

Sensory intervention, one aspect in the occupational therapy treatment of the high-risk, preterm infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is discussed. Normal deviations in the healthy preterm baby's development at the equivalent age of the full-term baby are identified as a basis for intervention. Environmental factors affecting the preterm infant's interactions and therapeutic needs...

At the time of discharge home, parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit often feel apprehensive and may question their ability to care for their baby. The well-planned, comprehensive discharge of a medically stable infant helps to ensure a positive transition to home and safe, effective care after discharge. This statement provides guidance in planning discharge of infants...

AIM We quantitatively analysed the effect of a course in communication on the content of nurse-parent encounters and the ability of nurses to respond to the empathic needs of parents in a level III neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS We evaluated 36 and 45 nurse-parent encounters audio recorded before and after 13 neonatal nurses attended a communication course. The number of empathic oppor...

A retrospective analysis of the outcome of inborn very low birthweight infants admitted to the neonatal unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies pre- (period 1) and post- (period 2) establishment of a neonatal intensive care unit was conducted. During the study, 250 infants were admitted to the neonatal unit, 132 (53%) during period 1 and 118 (47%) during period 2. There was improved ...

OBJECTIVE Five NICUs that participate in the Vermont Oxford Network Quality Improvement Collaborative have implemented several potentially better practices in an attempt to decrease nurse turnover by 50%. These potentially better practices focus on orientation, rewards and recognition, healthy work environment, nurse-physician collaboration, and nursing autonomy. METHODS Each unit implemented...

INTRODUCTION The birth of a premature infant is a stressful and emotionally challenging time for parents. Families living in rural areas often have reduced access to the specialist services premature infants require, and different concerns from their metropolitan counterparts. Rural families may have to spend extended periods of time at a metropolitan centre while their child is in a neonatal i...

From October 2010 to December 2015, we screened a total of 1716 babies. 809 babies were from well-baby nurseries and 907 babies were from neonatal intensive care unit. 299 babies failed the first screen, but only 66 out of 299 appeared for rescreen. Eighteen babies failed the rescreen and were recommended BERA testing. However, none of the babies turned up for BERA testing or could not be track...