bilimeter

[ladylabor]

This question should probably be directed toward nursery, but I was wondering what the normal practice on using bili lights is? I was taught to use a bilimeter to determine the distance the light should be from the baby. Also to preform hourly vital signs. Do people still use the bilimeter?

[SmilingBluEyes]

Yes we use it for spot checking. It should be used when babies are under lights to ensure you are not either under or over-doing it.

[prmenrs, RN]

We just have to document that it's greater than the lower limit (can't remember what that is @ the moment) once/shift. Have to put the thing almost right on the kid.

I can't imagine why you'd want to check vitals that often--I would just check temp before he eats, HR, RR and BP when he's sleeping. There kids are crabby enough, don't wake 'em up if you don't have to. If they're in a unit they're monitored anyway.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I swear, we must be the only unit around that doesn't have a bilimeter. We check bili levels Q12 on babies under the lights, more often if they're close to exchange level. But we don't actually check our lights. We can't raise or lower our kids anyways, so I don't know what we'd do with a bilimeter reading anyways. We have never had problems with our lights not working to bring down bili levels.

I can imagine needing to monitor babies in the newborn nursery more often than in the NICU. In the unit, they're going to be on monitors. But in newborn nursery, they often aren't. I've heard of cases where babies were in isolettes getting phototherapy in the NBN and they passed away without anyone noticing until it was time for the next feeding. The risks of dehydration are pretty high with phototherapy, maybe this has something to do with it?

[prmenrs, RN]

I think the idea is to tell you to change the light bulbs (or, have maintanence do it!! ).

[SmilingBluEyes]

Prmenrs is the expert voice here.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I think the idea is to tell you to change the light bulbs (or, have maintanence do it!! ).

I wonder if we have some sort of schedule for changing bulbs out regularly. Because we never monitored ours yet they always work well, so maybe they have new bulbs placed according to the manufacturer's instructions or something along those lines.

I swear, doesn't it bug you guys when you find out that everyone else is doing something that your hospital isn't? Makes me fee like we're in the dark ages sometimes. :uhoh21: