Neonatal network : NN
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Neonatal network : NN · Mar 2008
Historical ArticleThe changing role of parents in neonatal care: a historical review.
Over the past century, improvements in technology and neonatal care techniques have dramatically reduced infant mortality rates. While this progress continues, a growing body of literature supports the significant role that parents play in the development of infants, particularly within the hospital setting. ⋯ This historical review describes how past neonatal care practices affected the roles of parents, from absence or indirect involvemcnt to the important involved roles of today. Understanding current trends in relation to these past experiences may encourage the formulation of family-centered care practices now and in the friture.
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Neonatal health care providers are fortunate that the umbilical cord generally provides easy intravenous (IV) access for newborn patients. Outside of the immediate newborn period, however, it may be impossible to obtain peripheral or umbilical IV access in critically ill newborns. Intraosseous (IO) infusion is not widely used in the neonatal population, but is a viable option when IV access cannot be established quickly. This article examines IO infusion devices and placement sites and addresses assessment and care of the infant receiving IO fluids and medications.
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Honey has been shown to have antibacterial activity against a variety of species of bacteria in vitro. Although the evidence regarding the use of honey for wound treatment in neonates and infants is interesting, it is not strong. ⋯ A comparison of different types of honey would be an important component of these trials. Currently, there is not enough evidence to recommend one type of honey over another type; however, honey and wound care experts do recommend honey for wound care, not for consumption.
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The concept of palliative care, well recognized in the adult population, has not been fully implemented in the pediatric population. Yet there is an urgent need to define and provide excellence in end-of-life care for infants and their families. ⋯ Through research and education, the challenges to implementing neonatal palliative care programs can be overcome. This article describes the components of neonatal palliative care, identifies the challenges associated wiith the implementation of such programs, and proposes strategies for addressing these challenges.