Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Maternal Newborn Nursing

Introduction

Maternal Newborn NursingIntroduction
An adult finger touching the bottom of a newborn baby’s foot as it rests on a blanket.
Figure 25.1 Preterm Birth Some of the most vulnerable populations nurses care for are newborns. Within this special population, an even more susceptible patient is the newborn at risk. The goal of the nurse in the nursery, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU) is to identify and be prepared to treat, when necessary, the conditions that can most harm these small yet resilient infants. (credit: “Against the odds” by Karen Abeyasekere/Royal Air Force Mildenhall, Public Domain)

Chapter Outline

25.1 Birth-Related Complications
25.2 Congenital, Genetic, and Acquired Complications
25.3 Newborn Resuscitation
25.4 Preterm Newborn
25.5 Parent-Newborn Bonding and Attachment
25.6 Discharge Planning

Newborn complications include those related to traumatic birth, a result of maternal health, or an outcome of genetics. The nurse's priority is knowing when and how to intervene to provide the best care for the newborn and family. Nursing interventions can sometimes include following neonatal resuscitation protocols or transferring a preterm newborn to the NICU for care. Parent attachment with an at-risk newborn can be altered because of the need for immediate medical interventions. The nurse encourages parents to engage with their newborn as much as medically possible to facilitate appropriate bonding and attachment. In addition, the nurse provides and regularly reinforces discharge teaching so that parents feel confident to care safely for their at-risk newborn at home.

PreviousNext
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/maternal-newborn-nursing/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/maternal-newborn-nursing/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jun 25, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.