Follow-Up for NICU Graduates : Promoting Positive Developmental and Behavioral Outcomes for At-Risk Infants

This book examines the role of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and follow-up clinics in addressing the complex developmental, behavioral, social, and medical needs of at-risk infants through early intervention and medical subspecialties. It describes the necessary functional components of follow-up clinics and challenges in establishing and running multidisciplinary clinics in an area of difficult heath care financing. Chapters provide essential guidelines for determining which neonates will need follow-up care, evaluating for neurodevelopmental delays and medical and behavioral impairment and disability, and estimating how long intervention and further follow-up will be required. Chapters also discuss organization, staffing, funding, testing protocols, and coordination with other programs and care facilities, particularly early intervention and the medical home. In addition, the book offers best practices for fostering optimal development for individual infants and high-risk populations while raising standards for neonatal care and creating a smooth transition to appropriate subsequent care. Topics featured in this book include: * Developmental care in the nursery. * Utilizing neonatal brain imaging to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes of NICU infants. * Genetic considerations in infants with congenital anomalies. * The HRIF clinic organization model. * Issues common in neurodevelopmental testing of premature infants. * The impact of environmental risks, such as parental distress and in-utero drug exposure, to infant neurodevelopment. __Follow-Up for NICU Graduates__ is a must-have resource for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in developmental psychology, pediatrics, neuroscience, obstetrics, nursing, and related disciplines. This innovative text for Neonatal Nurses and NICU clinicians introduces new, evidence-based care protocols proven to mitigate or reduce the profound morbidities and subsequent developmental challenges that afflict newborns in the NICU. The book reframes the concept of developmentally supportive care to trauma-informed, age-appropriate care of the hospitalized premature infant. Aimed at transforming NICU practice, the book links developmental care to quality standards and Joint Commission requirements. The text is also unique in its provision of engaging online learning activities that facilitate the translation of content into clinical practice, whereby the user can also earn CEUs. The text highlights the ways in which Nightingale's tenets of nursing and Watson's theory of human caring science resonate with the its subject matter and are applied in the NICU. It includes examples of favorable outcomes associated with the protocols described in this book from practitioners in the U.S. and overseas. Additionally, the text aligns with NANN guidelines for Age Appropriate Care of the Premature and Hospitalized Infant. This book will provide the neonatal nurse/APN with best available, evidence-based caring strategies to consistently and reliably manage the trauma associated with the NICU experience and mitigate both short-term and long-term complications associated with this developmental trauma. Key Features: Introduces cutting-edge, evidence-based care protocols proven to reduce the profound morbidities and developmental challenges of premature infants Reframes the concept of developmentally supportive care to trauma-informed, age-appropriate care Meets Joint Commission requirements for age-appropriate staff education Includes examples from researchers and practitioners worldwide Presents innovative online learning activities to facilitate translation of content to clinical practice "This book examines the role of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and follow-up clinics in addressing the complex developmental, behavioral, social, and medical needs of at-risk infants through early intervention and medical subspecialties. It describes the necessary functional components of follow-up clinics and challenges in establishing and running multidisciplinary clinics in an area of difficult heath care financing. Chapters provide essential guidelines for determining which neonates will need follow-up care, evaluating for neurodevelopmental delays and medical and behavioral impairment and disability, and estimating how long intervention and further follow-up will be required. Chapters also discuss organization, staffing, funding, testing protocols, and coordination with other programs and care facilities, particularly early intervention and the medical home. In addition, the book offers best practices for fostering optimal development for individual infants and high-risk populations while raising standards for neonatal care and creating a smooth transition to appropriate subsequent care. Topics featured in this book include: Developmental care in the nursery. Utilizing neonatal brain imaging to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes of NICU infants. Genetic considerations in infants with congenital anomalies. The HRIF clinic organization model. Issues common in neurodevelopmental testing of premature infants. The impact of environmental risks, such as parental distress and in-utero drug exposure, to infant neurodevelopment. Follow-Up for NICU Graduates is a must-have resource for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in developmental psychology, pediatrics, neuroscience, obstetrics, nursing, and related disciplines."-- Provided by publisher Meets The Joint Commission requirements for age-appropriate staff education--Book Jacket