Updates

The first step in getting to where you want to go is knowing where you are.

*Is there a nurse driven standardized algorithm to guide clinical management of asymptomatic newborns at-risk for hypoglycemia at your facility?

*Current approach to management of the asymptomatic at-risk hypoglycemic newborn aligns with:

AAP guidelines

Pediatric Endocrine Society guidelines

Locally derived management protocol

*Is there an IV weaning protocol in your unit for infants who receive continuous IV therapy solely for the treatment of hypoglycemia?

These questions and more are serving as the basis for an intensive review of the current 'state' of care for hypoglycemia.  Comparing that state with identified best practices is part of the baseline work teams are undertaking to identify possible areas of improvement and prepare for the work ahead. 

The Newborn Hypoglycemia Prevention and Care expert team decided developing a statewide hypoglycemia protocol to manage the at-risk newborn should be a goal of this project.  Utilizing evidenced-based practice and tapping into the expert knowledge of our providers across the state is how we plan to accomplish this.  

If your unit currently has a hypoglycemia protocol or algorithm that guides clinical practice, please consider sharing it with PQCNC.  Your unit practices will help develop a statewide clinical algorithm to help standardize care for newborns in North Carolina.  Submit your algorithm here

The dedicated NHPC expert team has successfully completed the essential documents that will guide teams toward identifying and treating symptomatic newborns with signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and asymptomatic newborns at-risk for hypoglycemia within the first 48 hours of life.  The strength of this project lies in the primary goals all teams will aim to achieve: keeping the mother and infant dyad together, supporting breastfeeding and ensuring 100% of participating hospitals develop guiding protocols in their NICUs and newborn nurseries.

 To join the efforts and improve the care of newborns in your facility click HERE

The newborn hypoglycemia prevention and care panel of experts continued to have a highly engaged discussion last week as we completed our second team call focused on the goals and outcomes of the charter.  The possibly of creating a statewide protocol to manage the at-risk hypoglycemic newborn was a high point of the discussion with 87% of the experts in favor of creating this resource collaboratively.  Calls will continue as our multidisciplinary team of experts discuss optimal parameters and data points that will capture the work in a meaningful way and guide clinical practice change.