EFFECT OF STANDARDIZED APPROACH TO THE CARE OF THE EXTREMELY LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANT

An extremely low birthweight (ELBW) protocol was developed at this reg ional neonatal intensive care unit. The focus was the standardization of care related to the implementation/maintenance of a humidified envi ronment and attention to prevention of skin excoriation in the extreme ly low birthweight infant (<1000g). Steps toward successful implementa tion of the standardized approach required an interdisciplinary commit ment, literature review of current practice methodologies, a definitio n of nursing and medical approach to these infants in the first days o f life, and an evaluation of the practice change focusing on patient o utcomes. A comparative review was completed that evaluated the change in patient outcomes of the extremely low birthweight infants relative to fluid and electrolyte status in the first five days of life after i mplementation of the protocol as compared to prior to implementation o f the protocol.