An assessment tool for infants requiring continuous positive airway pressure via nasal CPAP devices and nasal high flow devices

5^th International Conference on Family Nursing

June 13-15, 2016 Philadelphia, USA

Susan Lamburne

Southmead Hospital, UK

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Nasal CPAP devices have the potential to cause tissue break down if used incorrectly. In an effort to prevent nasal scaring, an assessment tool was implemented within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK in 2008. The assessment tool has since been updated and now includes babies who receive Nasal High Flow and babies receiving Nasal CPAP. On an hourly basis the infants� nares are scored and the score is documented on the infants� intensive care record chart. This unique visual assessment tool is a simple staging system that when used together with the nCPAP care plan/competency and the nasal high flow competency, serves as a strategy for prevention and treatment to this iatrogenic and cutaneous event. Following an extensive and scrutinized literature search involving PubMed and CINHAL this assessment tool has been published in peer reviewed journals relating to the care of the neonate. The author is currently assisting managed neonatal networks within England in implementing this assessment tool through presentations at conferences and in attending individual neonatal units to support senior nurses in implementing this work.

Biography :

Susan Lamburne has completed her training as a Registered General Nurse in 1988. In 1990, she obtained her special and intensive care qualification in the care of the newborn and since then she has worked extensively within Neonatal units in the UK and Bermuda. She has been a research nurse to two multi centre randomised controlled trials, DRIFT and TOBY. She is currently a Senior Sister/Team Leader at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK. She has published articles in peer reviewed journals relating to the care of the neonate.

Email: Susan.Lamburne@nbt.nhs.uk