ROTATION: Newborn Nursery
FACULTY: Dr. Linares and Dr. Rojas
PATIENT CARE
Residents must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and
effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health. Residents are
expected to:

Use a logical and appropriate clinical approach to the care of newborns, applying
principles of evidence-based decision-making and problem-solving
o
Identify the series of events the neonate goes through from birth until
discharge by describing the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal periods.
o
Identify the newborn transitional period including cardiopulmonary changes,
monitoring procedures and disease prevention

Describe the operation and management of the newborn nursery including admission,
transfers, discharge planning, infant feeding, safety and infection control

Perform an assessment of a newborn using history, physical exam and routing
screening procedures

o
Describe maternal risk factors
o
Interpret laboratory results
o
Identify normal vital sign and lab parameters
Perform procedures appropriate for the newborn nursery
o
Circumcision
o
Venipuncture
o
Lumbar Puncture
o
Arterial Puncture
o
Removal of extra digits and skin tags
Provide sensitive support to patients and their families in the newborn nursery
MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE
Residents must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical,
and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this
knowledge to patient care. Residents are expected to:

Demonstrate a commitment to acquiring the knowledge needed for the care of
newborns in the nursery
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
o
Recognize the physical findings and treatment of common newborn conditions
such as transient tachypnea of the newborn, meconium aspiration,
pneumonia, hyaline membrane disease, sepsis
o
Identify issues concerning infant nutrition: breast feeding, formula feeding
Know and or access medical information efficiently, evaluate it critically, and apply it
to newborn care appropriately

PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT
Residents must be able to investigate and evaluate their patient care practices, appraise and
assimilate scientific evidence, and improve their patient care practices. Residents are expected
to:

Use scientific methods and evidence to investigate, evaluate, and improve patient care
practice in the nursery setting

Identify standardized guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of conditions to the
newborn nursery, and adapt them to the individual needs of specific patients

Identify personal learning needs, systematically organize relevant information
resources for future reference, and address plans for lifelong learning about newborn
care.
INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Residents must be able to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in
effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their patients families, and
professional associates. Residents are expected to:

Provide effective patient education, including reassurance, for conditions common to
the newborn nursery

Communicate and work effectively with staff, health care professionals, specialists to
create and sustain information exchange and teamwork for patient care

Develop effective strategies for teaching students, colleagues and other professionals

Maintain accurate, legible, timely, and legally appropriate medical records for
newborns
PROFESSIONALISM
Residents must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities,
adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population. Residents are
expected to:

Demonstrate personal accountability to the well-being of patients
o
Following up on lab results
o
Writing comprehensive notes
o
Seeking answers to patient care questions
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

Demonstrate a commitment to professional behavior in interactions with staff and
professional colleagues
Adhere to ethical and legal principles and be sensitive to diversity
SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE
Residents must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and
system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care
that is of optimal value. Residents are expected to:

Demonstrate sensitivity to the costs of clinical care in the nursery, and take
steps to minimize costs without compromising quality

Recognize and advocate for families who need assistance during the hospital
stay and after discharge

Recognize one’s limits and those of the system; take steps to avoid medical
errors
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