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PROTOCOL FOR BABY FOCUSED NURSING CARE – PRIMARY NURSING

Aims​

To optimize patient care by providing individual treatment and better communication with family members and doctors.

Responsible​

Nursing staff

Procedure​

All babies should be divided between the nursing staff on duty. If possible, the nurse should take care of the same babies every day. This gives the nurse an opportunity to provide better care for the baby, increase their knowledge on the baby's diagnosis and improve the communication with the family members and medical staff.

Responsibilities​

  1. Know the baby's medical history.
  2. Morning care: wash the baby, take the temperature and follow up on temperature, change diapers, weigh the baby and fill in the growth chart, change linen and make a nest if needed.
  3. Baby assessments: observe the baby's breathing pattern, oxygen management, skin etc., and inform doctor if any changes is observed.
  4. Feed the baby every 2 hourly or as prescribed by the doctor, and make sure the baby has an orogastric or nasogastric tube if the baby is on gavage feed.
  5. Change the baby's position every 3 to 4 hours, including changing of diaper if needed.
  6. Communication and education of family members: including guidance on daily morning care, breastfeeding, hand expression of breast milk, Kangaroo Mother Care and preparing for discharge.
  7. Attend doctor’s rounds, and follow up on decisions made.
  8. Kangaroo Mother Care.
  9. Make sure the bed and surrounding area is clean and hygienic.
  10. Attend all paper work: growth charts, drug charts, ordering of equipment and medications, etc.
  11. Document in the baby's journal: weight, temperature, feeding time and volume and type of milk given, urine output and passing of stool.
  12. If the baby is on IV fluids, make sure the baby has a functioning IV cannula.
  13. Administration of medications, and follow up on IV fluids given.
  14. Taking blood samples and collect urine.
  15. Giving hand over to the next nurse in charge.
  16. Always handle all babies gently and carefully.

References​

Practical Procedures for the Newborn Nursery, A Manual for Physicians & Nurses, by Deorari, Paul, Singhal, Scotland and McMillan and Neonatal Intensive Care by Merenstein & Gardner, 7. edition (2011).

Document Information​

Archived Version

Version: 1.0 (Archived)
Published: August 3, 2015
Contributors: Teaching Nurses from Norway and FBNCU Nursing Staff, JK Lone Hospital, SMS Medical College, Jaipur
View: Current Version