Perinatal Factors and the Developmental Outcome of Preterm Infants

To determine the developmental outcome of sick preterm infants, a retrospective analysis of 101 preterm infant survivors, cared for at a teaching hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, was conducted. Information regarding the one-year developmental outcome was compared with significant perinatal factors: birth weight, gestational age, neonatal mortality index, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) severity, and high-risk pregnancy factors. Eighteen percent of all infants studied had developmental delays indicating an improved prognosis for preterm infants. Severe RDS survivors had the greatest incidence of developmental delays and the most high-risk pregnancy histories.     

Pediatric Headaches: What Do the Children Want?

One hundred consecutive children (aged 3 to 17 years), drawn from primary care pediatric clinics, with a greater than 3-month history of headaches completed surveys to determine the type and associated features of their headache and to query their reasons for wanting to see a physician. Additionally, the children were asked to draw pictures of how they felt when they had a headache to assess their nonverbal perceptions. Over 90% of the headaches were migrainous (65% common, 23% classic, 5% basilar). The children wanted three answers from the physician: what was the cause of their headache, what would make it better, and reassurance that they had no life-threatening illness. Furthermore, 33%, of the children's illustrations disclosed depressive features of helplessness, frustration, and anger. Over 20% of the adolescents depicted themselves as dead, dying, or about to be killed by their headache.     

Time Limitation for Early Breastfeeding

To prevent nipple soreness, mothers who are breastfeeding are counseled to limit the time their infant feeds in the early postpartum period. No evidence supports this method of prevention. To the contrary, nursing and medical literature report that this practice is not effective and that its use should be discontinued. Nursing interventions to prevent nipple problems are presented.     

Families and genetics: Bridging the gap between knowledge and practice

The Human Genome Project (HGP) and news of genetic breakthroughs are pervasive to most of our lives today. Yet how many of us have had formal education in genetics? When and how do we integrate this knowledge into our clinical practice? This article discusses the relevance of genetics to newborn and infant nursing practice and how new genetic knowledge affects patients and their families. Approaches to educating clinicians about genetics within the context of the family are described, as newborn and infant nurses emphasize the family in their daily work and frequently work with children and families with genetic diagnoses. Education and research from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing are used as examples to describe the integration of genetics into the practice of nurses caring for newborns, infants, and their families. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.