Preparing parents to care for their newborn is the responsibility of maternal and neonatal nurses. Given the short period of time that most parents spend in the hospital after giving birth, adequately covering all the information that parents needs is a challenge. This article offers creative strategies that may expedite the teaching and learning process.

Program Objectives:
* Identify four infant safety issues to discuss with parents prior to discharge.

* Name three challenges to parent education and identify three strategies to deal with them.

* Teach parents how to recognize a sick neonate.

Faculty Name: Sandra L. Gardner, RN MS CNS PNP

Title: Director of Professional Outreach Consultation

Bio: Sandra L. Gardner, RN, MS, CNS, PNP, is Director of Professional Outreach Consultation, a national and international consulting firm established in 1980. Ms Gardner is also co-director and founder of Nurse’s Professional Development and Practice Association, LLC, (NPDPATM).

Ms. Gardner’s writing achievements include a wide variety of articles, pamphlets, chapters, and book reviews. She is co-editor with Gerald B. Merenstein, M.D., of Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care, 7th edition, 2011. She has co-edited with Mary Hagedorn a book entitled Legal Aspects of Maternal Child Nursing Practice, 1997. She is on the editorial board of Neonatal Network, and the Pre & Perinatal Psychology Journal.

Ms. Gardner is an active member of the Colorado Nurses Association/American Nurses Association, the National Association of Neonatal Nurses and The Academy of Neonatal Nursing. She is a founding member of the Colorado Perinatal Care Council, a state advisory council to the Governor and the State Health Department on perinatal/neonatal health care issues.

Media Format(s): Print (English)