FutureLearn

Assessment of the Newborn (FutureLearn)

Offered by Griffith University,

Understand the importance of the newborn physical assessment and learn how to conduct one. Learn how to perform a newborn physical assessment. The physical examination of a baby in the first hours of life is an essential part of newborn care and an important event for parents. On the course, you’ll learn from neonatal nurses, who are experts in newborn care. You’ll find out why the neonatal assessment is so important, and the value of involving parents.

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By the end of this course, you’ll know the steps for performing a head to toe assessment of a newborn. You’ll also know how to discuss the perinatal history, determine gestational age and assess newborn development.

What topics will you cover?

Preparing to conduct a newborn assessment.
Why collecting a maternal history is an important element of the overall assessment.
Step by step instructions for performing a head to toe physical assessment of the newborn.
Techniques for determining gestational age.
Assessing the development and reflexes of the newborn.
Common newborn challenges.
Newborn skin care.
Evaluating interactions between the mother and their newborn.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Perform a newborn assessment using a systematic head to toe approach, identifying both normal and abnormal characteristics.
Assess the gestational age of the newborn.
Discuss the benefits of parental and newborn bonding.

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