MistyM

Asked my manager about this and was informed that there had been some incidences of infants being "burned" by the temperature dot that was stuck on the skin from prolonged contact and that was the main reason they stopped using it for continuous monitoring. That and the fact that the new isolettes don't have the facility. It's just temp with cares and manually adjust the temp according or if a low birth weight preemie then more regular temps perhaps with feeds but mostly own clinical judgement.

Thanks for your help! I will bring it up with my ward manager next time I see her!

No the babies are not continuously monitored and as for the isolettes we adjust these according to the axilla temp, which is why I would like to implement a continuous form of temp monitoring. It will be easier, safer, and we don't have to disturb baby to keep poking it with the temp probe. Am I correct in thinking most of you use the skin dot that just sticks on? I used to work in an adult environment and they used nasal probes I was wondering if the use of a nasal probe on a baby would be a bit too harsh although we do use NG tubes..

Hi all Just wondered what people's practice was regarding temperature taking. We are told to promote minimal handling and therefore some people are taking it for gospel that they can't touch baby to record temperature- at the minute we record axilla temp usually with cares for a baby who has been with us a few days. Initially it is important particularly when a new preemie comes in or on humidity etc etc to check temp much more often than just with cares. However I understand that babies need to be left to get some settled sleep however knowing the complications of hypothermia and hyperthermia I am reluctant to leave temp recording for as long as some of the older nurses in our unit do, sometimes going as long as 12 hours without a temp!! I was thinking if suggesting to my manager about the potential for using the skin temp ( we have a transport incubator that does this and as far as I'm aware our other incubators allow this) or a nasal temperature probe attached to a monitor to allow us to get a real time temp reading making titration (particularly on humidity or phototherapy) much easier. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated

Hmm we r in the UK and I'm very new there so I'm not sure on all the guidelines yet, but it appears the parents r very accommodating and usually leave anyway when a round is on or handover is taking place

Our unit does this at present and if parents are visiting when rounds are on they are welcome to stay. It's quite simple the way we avoid other parents over hearing, just simply asking all other parents except the baby we are talking about to please take a seat in the waiting area and we will come and get them once its their babies turn

Hi all So I've just had my first day as a neonatal nurse! I have originally qualified as an adult nurse an have been working in an adult trauma ICU. My manager said working in an adult ICU would mean I had transferable skills to bring to neonatal. So optimistic on my first day I arrived and was allocated a lovely mentor to work alongside to show me the ropes. Our NNU has an ICU pod an HDU pod and a SCBU pod. My first assignment was in the HDU and I tell you I thought I knew a bit about nursing but stick me into neonates and I know nothing! I feel like I'm right back at square one as a brand new student even tho iv been nursing now for 4 and a half years! It was as tho a foreign language was being spoken! Anyone any tips, websites or any info that may help me. Such as info on gestation, feeding (breast and bottle), typical conplications a neonate might acquire, I feel like a fish out of water and this is what I have been wanting to do for a while now but no amount of pre reading could of prepared me! Thanks in advance

No problem! Do you have day surgical wards? Patients come In for assessment pre surgery and then off to theatres. Either back to the day unit for some obs And a wee before home or go to an overnight ward?

I'm not so sure if it is only the UK that has outpatients then if your unsure what it is. It's basically patient coming in for clinics. I know it's not a job in the NICU but its somewhere to get your feet in and work out if the job is for you, or if you have health visitors where you love that may be a route to take (special nurses who assess newborn babies in the community and ensure they are developing well)

Hey I would of thought an outpatients role would be more suitable for your needs shorter days, tend to be healthier patients not requiring much physical movement. I hope you find where you would like to be a that it suits you tho and I wish u all the luck for your future

Thank you for your reply! Yeah I am a nurse in the UK.thanks for the heads up on the documentation, I will most certainly look into that. I was wanting to discuss about family centred care, perhaps the initial fear the parents may have when picking up their child for the first time in such an environment and the education and guidance we as nurses could give them? However I am struggling as I have never been in such an environment before but the document you pointed me to will be of help I am sure! Thank you very much!

Hi all I'm really struggling with a presentation I have to prepare for an interview for a NICU staff nurse I have soon. I am an adult ICU nurse at present but want to transfer to the NICU however I only know the basics to this speciality of nursing. The topic I have to present is a 10 min presentation "discussing an area of neonatal care I am interested in and how I would implement the change on the unit" I have starting trying to research around however I thought getting some advice from people who currently work in such an area would be helpful, thank you in advance