Care of the Small Baby Course Overview

Approximately 1 in 10 babies is born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation) in the United States each year. While caring for a premature infant at any gestation requires hospitalized care, specific care and treatment must be implemented for very low birth weight infants born at 32 weeks' gestation or less. This course provides an overview of physiological differences and care management considerations unique to these small infants.

Upon course completion, learners should be able to provide care to the small baby according to current evidence-based practice standards.

Objectives

• Describe ways in which small baby systems differ from the older preterm and/or term infant
• Outline golden hour priority care interventions specific to the small baby
• Explain interdisciplinary practice strategies to support the small baby in optimizing outcomes
• Summarize short- and long-term complications of the small baby
• Describe effective strategies for facilitating parent engagement of the small baby throughout hospitalization