Neonatal Intensive Care

Students will participate in the intensive care of infants on the 2nd and 3rd year resident team. Neonatal disease and physiology are emphasized. Patient care is provided in the intensive care unit to out-born infants only. This elective provides a close working relationship with pediatric residents during their required inpatient ward month. This elective provides a close working relationship with pediatric residents during their required inpatient ward month. Whereas conferences specific to the students and residents on the team occur regularly, many students find it difficult to attend noon conference or morning report while on the rotation. The overnight call experience will be provided during the 2nd or 3rd week of the rotation on the resident night float team. There is a weekend requirement.

NICU Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to gather information necessary to care for critically ill newborns via parental interviews and chart review.
2. Perform a complete and accurate physical exam in critically ill newborns.
3. Use sensitive and effective methods to communicate with patients, families, and staff.
4. Interpret the value of various tests and procedures in the work-up of a hospitalized neonatal patient.
5. Apply practices of evidence-based medicine to formulate an assessment and plan for critically ill newborns.
6. Demonstrate the impact and inter-relatedness of developmental, emotional, socioeconomic and organic factors as they affect the neonate's health when evaluating patients and proposing diagnostic or therapeutic plans.
7. Demonstrate the ability to manage patient care efficiently and effectively.
8. Demonstrate the ability to assess, resuscitate and stabilize critically ill newborns.
9. Demonstrate the ability to create personal short and long term plans to achieve clinical competency.
10. Demonstrate effective oral and written case presentation skills for new patients and follow up care.
11. Demonstrate appropriate professional and ethical behaviors related to patients and other health care professionals.
12. Demonstrate empathetic patient-centered communication when discussing end of life care issues.
13. Practice organizing information for transition of patient care across different healthcare setting.