Other Nursing Considerations
Infants who require supplemental oxygen have special needs determined by their age, gestation, and underlying pathology. The infant’s overall status and family must be considered in the care equation. This includes evaluation and frequent reevaluation of the infant’s developmental status and attention to the needs of the parents. The healthy infant in transition with limited supplemental oxygen needs may be of low priority to the nurse, but a crisis to the parents, who were expecting a healthy newborn. In addition, supplemental oxygen should be presented to the infant’s family as an extremely important drug that is being used to treat their newborn. Just as the health care team takes the time to the family the use of other drugs, such as exogenous surfactant or antibiotics, in the treatment of their infant, so too should they explain the use of supplemental oxygen.