Nursing and medical management of preterm
neonates is often the source of excessive stimulation
at a time when neonate needs an organizing
influence to promote neurobehavioral organization.
Environmental conditions affect the infant's physiologic
status. The infant often responds to changes
in the environment and to caregiving interventions
with behavioral and physiologic changes. The
environment also influences the development of
biological rhythms (Thomas, 1995). Preterm infants
often require long hospitalization and are at
risk for developing iatrogenic complications from
interventions to ensure their survival as well as
from the intensive care nursery environment.