Neonatal evaluation by nurses in a neonatal special care unit.
The value of a nursing questionnaire in the evaluation of preterm infants during their stay in the neonatal special care unit was studied. The questions were related to feeding, crying, sleeping, motoric process, tremor and stress, state control, position, sensory capabilities and parental attitudes. In general, questions were answered in 95%, but the questions related to sensory capabilities were only answered in 30%. Evaluation by the nurses of feeding, crying, motoric process, tremor and parental attitudes correlated well with observational data and with the results of a neurological examination. It was concluded that evaluation by the nurses using a questionnaire can be of value in neonatal units, especially when detailed observations or a systematic neurological examination are not feasible.
D001519:Behavior; D001530:Belgium; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires