AbearsdenRNC

The AAP does make a statement against co-bedding and it is not related to infection. It is more related to the back to sleep issue-nothing in the bed except the baby-no extra blankets or stuffed animals or toys. I guess they figure that babies in that close of proximity could be a potential SIDS problem if they are huddled very close together. In our unit, we stopped co-bedding a long time ago. We do co-bedding if the parents request us to do so, even though we are trying to educate the parents on what is best according the the AAP.

I want to thank-you all for your responses. I did find some great resources on the web for developing a best practice for our unit. I am saddened by what our nurses were doing with the equipment, and embarassed by it, too. What I have found in my lit search is basically to suction the mouth first with bulb syringe or cath, then the nose with either a bulb syringe or cath. Saline drops will help to mobilize the secretions. We are going to make our practice that an 8FR is good for the mouth and a 6 FR is good for the nose. We'll see how that flies. THANKS for all the responses!! :redbeathe

We have a BIG problem in our NICU. It seems that nurses were "altering" the neosuckers by cutting the bulb tip off and then suctioning the nares with it. Also, nurses were using 8 french catheters in the nares to suction. We have had lots of nasal trauma as a result. One of our Nurse practitioners was so fed up that she threatened to call Risk Management if the Neo suckers weren't pulled immediately. The kicker is that I am the "Whistle blower" and the other nurses are really not happy with me, but I am not willing to stand by and watch these infants be traumatized. My nurse manager asked me to write a suctioning guideline. My delimma is there are limited resources and I am hoping there are others in my situation that can point me in the direction of some resources or share policies/ guidelines/ help/ ANYTHING with me. Thanks a BILLION!

Standing at bedside charting and you feel like someone is watching you. You peer under the covers of the incubator and there is just enough of a crack in the cover to see that adorable 28 weeker watching you through his CPAP apparatus and cap. MELT! Placing an irritable vented twink on their tummy and watching them melt into the nest with a perceptable smile around the ETT.