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Daniel Nicklas, Christine Gold, and Mary Kohn, MD

In this course, you will learn some medical interventions and skills to keep newborns healthy in the days and weeks after they have been born. We’ll tell you about medicines like Vitamin K and erythromycin and how they can prevent serious illnesses. We’ll also introduce screening tests like hearing screening and newborn blood screening that help to make sure that babies are set up for success right from the start. But we will start off by talking about jaundice, looking at the simple ways to identify and treat this common presentation and prevent any harm to babies.

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In this course, you will learn some medical interventions and skills to keep newborns healthy in the days and weeks after they have been born. We’ll tell you about medicines like Vitamin K and erythromycin and how they can prevent serious illnesses. We’ll also introduce screening tests like hearing screening and newborn blood screening that help to make sure that babies are set up for success right from the start. But we will start off by talking about jaundice, looking at the simple ways to identify and treat this common presentation and prevent any harm to babies.

A newborn baby is an amazing beautiful life filled with hope. There is so much that goes into making sure that babies are born healthy, and so much more to think about after they are born. Whether you are in the health care field, or even a parent, this course is the perfect educational opportunity for you to keep newborn babies healthy in the days and weeks after they are born!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Jaundice
Let’s start off talking about a common problem that can be easily identified and treated in newborns. And that is hyperbilirubinemia, which we see as jaundice, or yellow skin, in newborn babies. In this module, we’ll teach you how jaundice occurs and the skills needed to identify hyperbilirubinemia. We’ll finish by telling you the steps to take to lessen the chances of permanent brain damage caused by hyperbilirubinemia, which is called kernicterus.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores core medical interventions and skills for ensuring newborn health
Taught by experienced medical professionals with specialized knowledge in newborn care
Provides comprehensive coverage of essential newborn screening tests and treatments
Focuses on early detection and prevention of potential health issues in newborns
Suitable for healthcare professionals and individuals seeking knowledge in newborn care
Requires a foundational understanding of medical concepts and practices

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Reviews summary

Essential preventative care for newborns

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in preventative healthcare for newborn babies. Students report gaining valuable knowledge on topics like jaundice, newborn screening tests, and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening. Many found the content clear and well-explained, making it accessible for both parents and healthcare professionals. The modules on Vitamin K, Hepatitis B, and Erythromycin were particularly highlighted as providing important, practical information. The course is seen as an excellent overview for anyone involved in newborn care, although some notes suggest it serves primarily as an introduction rather than an advanced deep dive.
Serves as an introduction to the topics.
"Provides a great overview of newborn health essentials."
"This course offers a solid starting point for understanding preventative care."
"It's a good introduction, but someone seeking in-depth clinical detail might need more."
"The course gives a foundational understanding, perfect for beginners or general knowledge."
Addresses critical newborn health issues.
"The module on jaundice was particularly informative, covering identification and prevention thoroughly."
"Learning about newborn screening tests and CCHD screening felt very important and practical."
"The course covered all the key preventative measures I needed to know about for my baby."
"It provided vital information on Vitamin K, Hepatitis B, and eye infections."
Relevant knowledge for parents & professionals.
"As a new parent, this course gave me essential knowledge and confidence about my baby's health."
"Highly recommend for anyone who cares for newborns, whether at home or in a clinical setting."
"This was useful both from a professional standpoint and personally as a parent."
"Found it incredibly beneficial for both personal interest and potential professional development in healthcare."
Topics are presented clearly and simply.
"The explanations were very clear and easy to follow, even for someone without a medical background."
"I appreciated how complex medical concepts were broken down into simple terms that I could understand."
"The course material is presented in a very understandable way, making it easy to grasp key information."
"Everything was explained clearly, which made learning about these vital topics much easier."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Preventative Healthcare for the Newborn Baby with these activities:
Review basic pharmacology and medication administration techniques
Refresh your knowledge of basic pharmacology and medication administration techniques to ensure safe and effective medication administration to newborns.
Browse courses on Medication Administration
Show steps
  • Review textbook chapters and lecture notes on neonatal pharmacology and medication administration
  • Practice calculating medication dosages for newborns under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional
Review neonatal anatomy and physiology
Review key concepts in neonatal anatomy and physiology to improve understanding of the basis of newborn care.
Browse courses on Anatomy
Show steps
  • Read textbook chapters and lecture notes on neonatal anatomy and physiology
  • Attend a preparatory webinar or workshop on neonatal anatomy and physiology
Participate in a peer group discussion on newborn feeding practices
Engage in collaborative discussions to exchange experiences, insights, and best practices related to newborn feeding, enhancing your knowledge.
Browse courses on Breastfeeding
Show steps
  • Join a peer group or discussion forum focused on newborn feeding
  • Actively participate in discussions by sharing your own knowledge and experiences
  • Listen attentively to others' perspectives and experiences to broaden your understanding
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a study guide on jaundice
Develop a concise and comprehensive study guide to solidify understanding of neonatal jaundice and guide future study and review.
Browse courses on Jaundice
Show steps
  • Gather information on jaundice from textbooks, articles, and online resources
  • Organize the information into a logical and coherent structure
  • Write clear and concise summaries of key concepts and procedures
Contribute to an open-source project related to neonatal health
Involve yourself in ongoing open-source initiatives to expand your knowledge, contribute to the community, and improve newborn health outcomes.
Show steps
  • Identify an open-source project or organization focused on neonatal health
  • Explore the project and find an area where you can make a contribution
  • Join the project community and collaborate with other contributors
Practice identifying and classifying neonatal rashes
Engage in repetitive practice to develop proficiency in identifying and classifying common neonatal rashes, enhancing diagnostic skills.
Show steps
  • Obtain a set of flashcards or online resources with images of different types of neonatal rashes
  • Practice identifying and classifying the rashes by matching them to their descriptions
  • Seek feedback from a healthcare professional or experienced colleague to improve accuracy
Attend a newborn resuscitation training course
Participate in a structured training program to acquire essential knowledge and skills for managing newborn resuscitation and other emergencies.
Show steps
  • Enroll in a newborn resuscitation training course offered by a reputable organization
  • Attend all sessions and actively engage in the training activities
  • Practice the techniques taught in the course under the guidance of experienced instructors

Career center

Learners who complete Preventative Healthcare for the Newborn Baby will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Pediatrician
Pediatricians care for children, from babies born prematurely to young adults. To become a pediatrician, you should take courses like this one that will help you understand the preventative medical care needed to keep newborn babies healthy. You may also consider courses on childhood development and educating parents.
Neonatal Nurse
Neonatal nurses provide care for critically ill or premature newborns. Studying the topics in this course, such as jaundice and newborn screening tests, will help you provide the best care to newborns. This course can help you build the skills and confidence you will need to work independently.
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapists help people of all ages, including infants, overcome challenges they may have with physical function, cognitive skills, and sensory processing. Taking this course would provide you foundational knowledge in how to care for newborn babies and may be particularly helpful for working with infants and their families.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists work with people who have speech, language, or swallowing problems. This course may be helpful for understanding the development and speech of children and could enhance your care.
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses care for ill or injured children. You may find this course helpful to prepare for nursing school, and while you're working as a nurse. It may be particularly helpful in developing skills to help babies, for example treating jaundice.
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Medical laboratory scientists perform tests on blood and other bodily fluids to help diagnose and treat diseases. The tests discussed in this course, such as newborn screening, may be part of their work. This course can give you foundational knowledge on the purpose and use of such tests.
Early Intervention Specialist
Early intervention specialists work with infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or disabilities to help them reach their full potential. This course may be helpful for understanding the development of newborn babies and any challenges they may face. It may particularly help you in your work with infants and their families.
Physician Assistant
Physician assistants are health care professionals who work under the supervision of a doctor. Often they specialize in a particular area. If you specialize in pediatrics, taking this course will help you acquire foundational knowledge in how to care for newborn babies.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses provide care to patients of all ages, including infants. Depending on your work environment, you may find it helpful to understand the medical care needed to keep newborn babies healthy. This course will provide foundational knowledge on the topics discussed.
Audiologist
Audiologists assess and treat hearing loss and related disorders. Taking this course will give you foundational knowledge in the importance of hearing and screening tests for newborns. This course may be particularly helpful if you specialize in working with children.
Public Health Nurse
Public health nurses work with communities to improve health and well-being. Studying topics covered in this course, such as newborn screening and preventative care, will strengthen your understanding of the public health system and how to care for infants.
Health Educator
Health educators develop and implement health education programs to promote healthy behaviors and prevent disease. Understanding the material discussed in this course may help you create programs for new parents who need guidance on preventative medical care for their babies.
Genetic Counselor
Genetic counselors help people understand and manage their genetic conditions. The newborn screening test topic discussed in this course will give you a foundation to help you explain this test to patients and their families.
Doula
Doulas provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Understanding the information discussed in this course may help you better support your clients as they care for and learn about their newborn babies.
Childbirth Educator
Childbirth educators teach expectant parents about pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. Understanding the material discussed in this course may help you better prepare your students to make informed decisions about the care of their newborn babies.

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Preventative Healthcare for the Newborn Baby .
Provides a comprehensive overview of medicine. It valuable resource for clinicians and researchers in all fields of medicine.
Provides a comprehensive overview of internal medicine. It valuable resource for clinicians and researchers in all fields of medicine.
This textbook covers a wide range of pediatric topics, including newborn care.
This comprehensive textbook covers various pediatric topics, including newborn care. It offers a well-rounded perspective on newborn health and can serve as a valuable resource for further exploration.
Specifically focused on newborn resuscitation, this textbook provides detailed guidance on best practices for healthcare professionals involved in newborn care. Its practical approach makes it a valuable resource for those seeking specialized knowledge in this area.
This resource provides detailed information on newborn screening tests, including their purpose, benefits, and limitations. It can be a valuable tool for healthcare professionals involved in newborn care.
This pocket guide offers quick and easy access to essential information on newborn care. Its portability and concise format make it a handy reference tool for healthcare professionals.
This textbook offers a nursing perspective on newborn care, covering topics such as assessment, feeding, and common health conditions. It can provide valuable insights for nurses and other healthcare professionals involved in newborn care.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the hepatitis B virus. It valuable resource for clinicians and researchers interested in hepatitis B.
This guide provides comprehensive information on the hepatitis B virus, including its transmission, prevention, and treatment. It valuable resource for healthcare professionals seeking more in-depth knowledge about hepatitis B vaccination in newborns.
While not directly related to the core topics of the course, this guide provides valuable information on kangaroo care, a method of skin-to-skin contact between a newborn and their caregiver. It can be beneficial for healthcare professionals and parents seeking more knowledge about this practice.

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