Newborn Levels of Care

[cherm59]

What constitutes Level II care in a nursery? I work on a LDRP unit that has no staffed nursery. When a NB is sick and needs supportive care a nurse is reassigned to the nursery. I cared for a NB who had a D 10 IV, q 1 hr blood sugars and IV titration orders. This NB was in the mom's room and I felt he should have been cared for in the nursery. I also had 2 other couplets and a cervidil induction at 5 pm. It was totally doable but the question still begs to be answered.....does this not constitute level II care?

Any insight would be helpful. Thanks

Cheryl

[klone, MSN, RN]

Level II is, I believe, greater than 32 weeks, respiratory support that does not include vents (hoods, NC), feeder/growers, etc. I imagine what you describe would be level II. The first hospital I worked at, we were officially a WBN, but we did a lot of Level 2 stuff. Nobody

I assume you do not have a NICU at this hospital? So I would guess that you probably try to do whatever you can to keep the baby at the same place as the mom. We would do that too. I think my main objection would be the patient assignment, rather than the baby being in the room with mom.

[cherm59]

No, we do not have a NICU. And I believe the assignment was a little much. Thanks