Thermoregulation in the Care of Infants Guideline for Practice

Thermoregulation is the cornerstone of newborn care. This digital practice guideline will assist the obstetrical, post-partum, and neonatal nurses as well as other health care providers in providing appropriate thermal support/regulation in a variety of settings. Using the most current evidence-based research, the practice guideline will provide direction for implementing best practices in the thermal management of the pre-term, term, and post-term infant. Included is a section that reviews skin physiology with a visual description of skin development in the neonate from 0 to 40 weeks gestation which supports the rationale for practice. 

Product Includes:
Skin physiology and thermal protection – provides a deeper explanation of the various stages of development of neonatal skin and the impact this has on thermal stability both after birth and in the NICU.
Thermal protection in the NICU – offers guidelines for providing optimal support including the use of humidity, environmental temperatures, transitioning to an open crib, as well as discussion of temperature support/management of respiratory and nutritional therapies.
Incubator/radiant warmer use in the NICU – offers guidelines providing detailed processes regarding appropriate use of the different warming devices utilized to provide thermal support.
Golden Hour – offers thermoregulation guidelines for Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) or infants less than 32 weeks gestation including environmental temperatures and specific guidelines for optimizing temperature of the infant in the delivery room.
Interfacility/intrafacility transport: offers guidelines for providing thermal support during transport. Included are guidelines for appropriate temperature support for the infant in the operating room as well as the emergency department. 

This guideline was made possible through an unrestricted grant from GE Healthcare.

Author information/Disclosure Information
Valerie Moniaci, DNP APRN NNP-BC; Samantha Alessi, MSN RNC-NIC CLC AACNS-N; Deanne August, BSN RN; Margaret Conway-Orgel, DNP APRN NNP-BC; Karen New, PhD RN RM; Bobby Bellflower, DNSc NNP-BC FAANP

DIGITAL PRODUCT

Release Date: 4/1/2021
Planned Review Date: 4/1/2026

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