A Call for Culture Change and Re-prioritization of Our Most Vulnerable Patient: Establishing Neurodevelopmental Protection for the Neonate

At this institution prioritization is often given to patients who are three to seven years old. This has led to a disparity in providing appropriate care for the neonatal population. New research on the short and long term consequences of common procedures and interventions performed on hospitalized infants led this hospital to implement evidence-based guidelines utilizing multi-modal strategies for neonatal pain management and promotion of healthy neurodevelopment.

Learning Objectives:

1. Integrate evidenced based practices to support the neurodevelopment of the hospitalized infant 2. Identify pharmacological and nonpharmacological ways to decrease pain in infants and articulate a strategic plan for rolling out new guidelines for treating stress and pain in infants
3. Consider ethical implications and implement methods to protect infants from the morbidities associated with long-term hospitalization, trauma and stress.
4. Assess and identify signs/symptoms of pain, stress, under-, and over-stimulation 5. Utilize methods for implementing culture change in terms of neurodevelopmental protection strategies

Suggested Domain: Ethics