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The newborn who requires intensive care hospitalization is forced into an external environment that can negatively impact the developing microbiome. The NICU nurse has a unique role that affects, and may even protect, the development of the newborn microbiome through daily nursing care. The purpose of this article is to inform neonatal nurses regarding common nursing interventions that can positively or negatively impact the developing microbiome. Evidence-based practices are presented and bundled to describe their impact the neonatal microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A delay in detecting acute hypertensive crisis in postpartum mothers can exacerbate complications in the mother. Neonatal nurses are uniquely qualified to identify postpartum warning signs in mothers while they are in the NICU with their infants. Few research studies have explored the use of neonatal nurse screenings for acute hypertensive crisis in postpartum mothers. NICU nurses screening mothers for postpartum depression has yielded success in improving outcomes, and this model could be translated into screening for acute hypertensive crisis. Further education should be implemented for NICU nurses that include a review of adult blood pressure monitoring, early warning signs, and symptoms of preeclampsia that the mother should report. This article discusses the importance of the neonatal nurse's role in identifying early warning signs of maternal postpartum hypertensive crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concepts of health equity and social justice are foundational to the profession of nursing. Substantial advances have been made over the past decades in the care of infants requiring support in the NICU; however, significant differences remain in health outcomes for infants and their families for groups considered to be disadvantaged. In this article, we explore the concept of health equity, introduce an action framework that provides a practical approach to advancing health equity, and describe how to apply this framework for action within the context of neonatal nursing practice. Nurses are encouraged to accept and act on their ethical responsibility toward the populations they serve, directing attention and resources to those with the greatest need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neonatal Critical Care Unit Book Club began with a common passion for reading and a need for socialization. There was also the hope that the club would foster a positive work culture and increase staff morale and resilience. In addition, the book club provided a mechanism for obtaining continuing education. The purpose of this article is to describe how a group of nurses participating in a book club were able to find support and encouragement during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We report findings from an institutional ethnography (IE) of nurses' work of feeding infants within an increasingly technical organization of NICUs. Sample: Five primary informants; 18 secondary informants. Design: The institutional ethnographic approach included field observations, interviews, and phone and e-mail conversations. Our analysis followed accounts of what actually happened within the textual organization of nurses' work. Main Outcome: Nurses' feeding practices are directed by protocols that arise within multiple documentation systems and clinical technologies. These systems produce barriers to nurses' efforts to skillfully feed infants. Results: Prioritization of quality and safety perspectives can obscure and constrain the ordinary yet critical clinical reasoning neonatal nurses employ during feeding work. Clinical technologies that have been developed to improve safety can paradoxically disrupt the ability of nurses to respond in the moment to neonatal feeding cues. This finding provides nurses, leaders, and policymakers with insight into why policies and procedures may not be followed as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]