Nurses caring for newborn infants now have evidence showing that temperature-taking in the left axilla is an alternative to using rectal temperatures, possibly minimizing discomfort and potential risk of perforation.
Providing compassionate bereavement care for families experiencing perinatal loss is a standard of care in most healthcare organizations. In this article, we describe the development of The Alliance of Perinatal Bereavement Support Facilitators, begun over 25 years ago in Chicago by staff who identified the need to reach out to colleagues at other area institutions for advice and support in this work. This collaboration created a regional support network that has resulted in a long-lasting, active, sustainable organization of excellence focused on enhancing practice, education, and perinatal bereavement care. Alliance activities center around four main areas: education, networking/support, policy, and recognizing outstanding service to families. By continuing to draw upon the collective talent, wisdom, and expertise of its members, The Alliance still serves grieving families and provides mentoring for future interdisciplinary team members engaged in this work. The path taken to build this organization can be used by professionals in other specialties who are looking to create their own alliance infrastructure based on mutual benefit and interest.
The importance of providing follow-up support to parents who have experienced a perinatal loss has been described in the literature. Anecdotal reports demonstrate that many health care professionals provide some type of telephone follow-up contact to bereaved parents in the weeks following the loss. Yet, limited information exists to guide the way that follow-up telephone calls are made, especially for assessing complicated grief. Health care professionals are often challenged as they attempt to identify parents at risk, especially when contacts are provided over the telephone. While it is never easy to talk to a parent during the very painful adjustment at home, guidelines for follow-up telephone calls can assist professionals in providing sensitive, individualized follow-up care.Despite the wealth of information on providing support to parents who experience a pregnancy or newborn loss (Association of Women's
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