DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS: PARENT TEACHING -- LATE PRETERM NEWBORN

Course overview

Late preterm newborns (i.e., neonates born between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks’ gestation, and frequently described as being “just a little small”) are similar in appearance to term infants, but behave differently and are at risk of excessive weight loss, feeding intolerance, a weak suck, hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, respiratory distress, apnea of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage, and infection. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of the process of providing parents discharge instructions about the late preterm newborn. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.