Vitamin K???

[Krista77]

Can someone please tell me when you should administer vitamin k to newborns? I understand to give it soon after birth- but my concern is that I admitted a baby at the change of shift... I did the initial vital signs and assessed the infant. The night shift RN seemed shocked that I had not yet administered the vitamin K. The infant was 1 1/2 hours old at the time of report.

Thanks a bunch,

Cardinal RN

[ncbeachgrl]

Has anyone gone to IV vit K for the ELBW kids? We have had 2 kids with necrosis in the thigh due to the Vit K, both these kids were like 400 grams? They have no fat and it probably isn't great to give them that route. Our attendings and peds pharm are looking into this as an alternative route for our tiny baby protocol.

When I first started nursing, we would give Vit. K IV to the micropremies, but I remember us stopping that practice; I was told that a baby died somewhere as a direct result of IV Vit. K being given too quickly or something like that. Don't know how true that is. But I know we went back to giving every admit Vit. K IM, and yes, I have seen a few bad thighs as a result.