The purpose of this article is to introduce a model of neurodevelopmental risk and protection that may explain some of the relationships among biobehavioral risks, environmental risks, and caregiving behaviors that potentially contribute to neurobehavioral and cognitive outcomes. Infants born before 30 weeks of gestation have the poorest developmental prognosis of all infants. These infants hav...

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE to verify the positioning indications of newborn sand build a standard operating procedure protocol for newborn positioning in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). METHOD for protocol validation, the Delphi technique was used ,in which expert nurses in the field reviewed the proposed procedure. RESULTS we present the results of this validation in a protocol form, to contr...

This article presents the elements of the Observation and Assessment section of the Infant Care Path for Physical Therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The types of physical therapy assessments presented in this path are evidence-based and the suggested timing of these assessments is primarily based on practice knowledge from expert therapists, with supporting evidence cited. Asse...

UNLABELLED It is unclear whether the atypical language development commonly seen in preterm infants is a consequence of language deficiency experienced during their prolonged NICU stay. This review provides a novel viewpoint, which highlights the potential impact of the NICU design on the developmental origin of language disabilities in preterm infants. CONCLUSION Further research is needed t...

The endotracheal tube (eTT) is the most common artificial airway used in NICUs. Suctioning of the eTT is imperative to maintain patency and prevent complications. An extensive review of the literature revealed a lack of standardized criteria or guidelines for suctioning the eTT of neonates and infants in the NICU. The purpose of this article is to report the implementation of an evidencebased g...

Oral feeding is a complex sensorimotor process that is influenced by many variables, making the introduction and management of oral feeding a challenge for many health care providers. Feeding practice guided by tradition or a trial-and-error approach may be inconsistent and has the potential to delay the progression of oral feeding skills. Oral feeding initiation and management should be based ...

Infants who have been hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may present with a multitude of challenges that put them at risk for delayed development. Early Intervention and specialized NICU follow up clinics are in place to help identify NICU graduates’ need for therapy services. Well-established, standardized assessments, such as the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Developm...