NICU

The Battle Against NEC: Insights into Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment

NICU, Technology / By

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common, and most serious gastrointestinal emergency in newborn infants. The pathophysiologic mechanism(s) leading to NEC are complex, and remain somewhat elusive. It is characterized by severe inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, invasion of enteric bacteria, and dissection of gas that can extend into the portal venous system and result in perforation. There …

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Increasing Breastfeeding Rates in the NICU via Utilization of the Neonatal Transport Team

Education, Innovation, Lactation, NICU, Patient Care / By

The benefits of human milk and colostrum are well recognized, specifically for an infant requiring admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Human milk offers an optimized defense against such co-morbidities as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, respiratory infections, chronic lung disease and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Enteral feedings are better tolerated, feeding progression enhanced …

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Posters By Our Hospital Partners: March 2023 Update

Lactation, NICU, Patient Care, Safety, Technology / By

1. Presented by Baystate Children’s Hospital at the Academic Pediatric Association Region 1 (Spring) Meeting 2023. CONCLUSIONS based on 2 years of data. 2. Presented by Connecticut Children’s at NEANN 2021, the annual meeting of the New England Association of Neonatal Nurses. RESULTS based on 12 months of data: March 1, 2020 to March 1, …

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Feed Order Standardization in the NICU

Change, Innovation, NICU, Nutrition, Safety, Technology / By

Whether it’s your favorite online store or food delivery service, we’re all used to choosing a product or service and having it delivered without difficulty. When was the last time what you ordered was not what you received?  In neonatal intensive care units everywhere, professionals spend hours each day discussing the merits of one therapeutic …

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Do You Want To Build A Milk Lab?

Dietitian, Formula Room, Innovation, NICU, Patient Care, Technology / By

The goal of this blog is to provide my own “hindsight,” when building the NICU milk/formula lab; and things that helped me with its successful construction and implementation.  Throughout my career in neonatal and pediatric nursing, I’ve been fortunate to experience moving into new clinical units. My first was as a charge nurse, where our team …

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The End Of An Error

Education, NICU, Safety / By

A three-part series that looks at how understanding the root causes of mistakes involving infant feeding management can help prevent them in the NICU. Originally published in Neonatal Intensive Care, The Journal of Perinatology-Neonatology: Part 1 (page 38), Part 2 (46), and Part 3 (40). Part 1: Introduction We all know that the NICU is …

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6 Questions To Answer Before Bringing In A Feeding Management System

Metrics, Milk Room, NICU, Safety / By

If you are considering a feeding management system, here are the 6 things you need to know about your organization. What are your compliance goals? Who is preparing feeds? Which units need the solution? When should each site go live? How do you approach staff and clinical education? Why should your institution make a change? …

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Human Milk Analyzers Are Having A Moment: Part 1

Education, Innovation, Metrics, Milk Room, NICU, Nutrition, Patient Care, Technology / By

Devices and kits are becoming more prevalent among hospitals, donor banks and consumers as the trend continues to expand. Human milk analyzers are having a moment. This category includes devices that use light to analyze milk for macronutrient composition, as well as kits with test strips. But why is the moment now?  Lactating parents, donor …

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