Health risks associated with late-preterm infants: implications for newborn primary care.

This integrative literature review focuses on the health risks associated with late-preterm infants (34 to 36 and 6/7 weeks gestation) and the implications for newborn primary care providers and pediatric nurses. Common morbidities in the late-term population included hyperbilirubinemia, respiratory compromise, hyperglycemia and poor feeding, temperature instability, and infection. Primary care providers should be aware of these morbidities to be sure risk-focused evaluation is performed during and after the birth hospitalization, and treatment is administered when necessary.