Unit IV: Maternal/Child Nursing Objectives

Unit IV: Maternal/Child Nursing: Care of the Postpartum and Newborn Patient

Objectives

  • Describe basic physiologic and psychological changes in the postpartum period and discuss a normal postpartum assessment.
  • Discuss developmental tasks the mother must accomplish during the postpartum period, including parent-infant attachment.
  • Discuss nursing management of a postpartum patient experiencing vaginal and abdominal delivery.
  • Discuss obstetric conditions and maternal medical and nursing management during the postpartum period (Table 4-2).
  • Discuss cultural considerations related to conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
  • Discuss nursing management for discharge planning for the postpartum patient.
  • Summarize the concepts of a complete newborn assessment to include normal variations and abnormal findings.
  • Describe the immediate care and assessment of the newborn patient.
    • Exemplars: initiation of respiration, temperature regulation, Apgar scoring, cord care, identification, resuscitation, care of the eyes, mother-infant attachment (normal variations and abnormal findings).
  • Explain the components of gestational age assessment and common newborn screening tests; compare the physical characteristics of a newborn.
    • Exemplars: pre-term, term, post-term, AGA, LGA, and SGA.
  • Explain factors present at birth that identify an at-risk newborn.
    • Exemplars: variations in vital signs, risk factors including infection, drug withdrawal, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress.
  • Discuss learning needs of parents with a newborn.
  • Discuss medical and nursing management of congenital anomalies.
    • Exemplars: cleft lip/palate, clubfoot, dislocated hip, hernia, hydrocephalus, imperforate anus, spina bifida, transesophageal fistula.
  • List etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, treatment, and nursing management of neonatal conditions.
    • Exemplars: Down syndrome, hemolytic disease, intracranial hemorrhage, meconium aspiration, neonatal abstinence syndrome, phenylketonuria, respiratory distress syndrome type II.