Preterm Infant Nutrition Bundle

Nutritional support of the preterm infant is a foundational concept in optimizing long term outcomes. Malnutrition is not uncommon in the preterm infant and is associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes. The prevention of malnutrition includes taking a proactive nutrition approach optimizing parenteral and enteral nutrition as well as monitoring growth and planning for post NICU nutrition. These topics are included in this presentation and considerations for quality improvement initiates are suggested.

Objectives:

• Describe two evidence-based nutritional interventions to prevent malnutrition and post-natal growth failure.
• Identify one long-term risk associated with growth failure
• Describe one evidence-based parenteral nutrition intervention to prevent post-natal growth failure/malnutrition.
• Identify one benefit provided by newer lipid emulsions to the premature infant.
• Describe one evidence-based enteral nutrition intervention to prevent post-natal growth failure/malnutrition.
• Name one component in maternal breast milk that helps to facilitate growth.
• Identify one common nutrient deficiency in the maternal diet that results in low levels in maternal breast milk.
• Describe two clinical methods to monitor growth in the premature infant.
• Identify two factors that put the VLBW infant at risk for neonatal malnutrition.
• Describe one nutrition goal for the VLBW infant at discharge.
• Identify one nutrition intervention used for a high risk VLBW infant leaving the NICU.

Total CE: 3.4

NCC Codes: NNP 3 or 7

NCC Codes: NIC 1 or 7

NCC Codes: LRN 2 or 4 or 7

Rx = 0.7

*This presentation was included in the Small Baby Care Specialist® Program

Last updated: November, 2021