This reflective process will focus on the care delivered to a 35 weeks neonate on a 12-hour shift. Aspects of this essay will critically discuss the management of a baby that I admitted into the High Dependency Unit (HDU) for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy as a result of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In order to gain an understanding of this essay, the pathophysiology of RDS will be briefly discussed in addition to the effectiveness of CPAP on the outcome of the neonate. I will also discuss the role that I played in caring got the neonate and how the infant’s family responded to the care delivered.
This reflective essay will be structured by utilising Marks-Maran and Rose reflective model (1997). The reason why this …show more content…
Following physical examination of Baby Thomas and the signs he exhibited during admission, my main priority at the time was to ensure that I intervened as soon as possible and also ensure that his airway was patent and uncompromised. From previous experience in practice, the management of an airway is at the forefront of neonatal care and an imperative contributory factor to their survival. My assessment followed the ABC approach by ensuring that Thomas’ airway was secured before any other thing. As well as ensuring that his airway was not compromised, Thomas was placed in a pre-warmed incubator in order to help achieve a normothermic state. This intervention also meant that Thomas was able to conserve his energy that might have otherwise been used to thermoregulate and …show more content…
As soon as Thomas had settled, I updated his Father on the reason why his son had been admitted and also the plan of care that has been decided for Thomas.
RELATED THEORY
Due to the complex nature of the neonate biological making, it is important than an understanding of the development of RDS is fully established in order to analyse whether the chosen choice of treatment was appropriate at the time.
Therefore, neonatal RDS is a condition that arises when the lungs of a newborn are underdeveloped and hence oxygen provision to vital organs are insufficient and or impaired. It has been found that this disease affects premature infants and especially neonates less than 34 weeks gestation and qualifies as the most common causes of neonatal deaths. It is understandable that infants born before 34 weeks lack surfactant; a type ii alveolar cells that are necessary for breathing. Further research into neonatal RDS has shown that in rare cases, RDS can also occur in full-term infants or those over 34 weeks gestation. Based on this information, it can, therefore, be argued that Thomas fall under this category. After a chest X-ray was performed, it was concluded that his RDS was in fact due to IUGR and being an
This reflective essay will be structured by utilising Marks-Maran and Rose reflective model (1997). The reason why this …show more content…
Following physical examination of Baby Thomas and the signs he exhibited during admission, my main priority at the time was to ensure that I intervened as soon as possible and also ensure that his airway was patent and uncompromised. From previous experience in practice, the management of an airway is at the forefront of neonatal care and an imperative contributory factor to their survival. My assessment followed the ABC approach by ensuring that Thomas’ airway was secured before any other thing. As well as ensuring that his airway was not compromised, Thomas was placed in a pre-warmed incubator in order to help achieve a normothermic state. This intervention also meant that Thomas was able to conserve his energy that might have otherwise been used to thermoregulate and …show more content…
As soon as Thomas had settled, I updated his Father on the reason why his son had been admitted and also the plan of care that has been decided for Thomas.
RELATED THEORY
Due to the complex nature of the neonate biological making, it is important than an understanding of the development of RDS is fully established in order to analyse whether the chosen choice of treatment was appropriate at the time.
Therefore, neonatal RDS is a condition that arises when the lungs of a newborn are underdeveloped and hence oxygen provision to vital organs are insufficient and or impaired. It has been found that this disease affects premature infants and especially neonates less than 34 weeks gestation and qualifies as the most common causes of neonatal deaths. It is understandable that infants born before 34 weeks lack surfactant; a type ii alveolar cells that are necessary for breathing. Further research into neonatal RDS has shown that in rare cases, RDS can also occur in full-term infants or those over 34 weeks gestation. Based on this information, it can, therefore, be argued that Thomas fall under this category. After a chest X-ray was performed, it was concluded that his RDS was in fact due to IUGR and being an