Expanding the Nurse's Role Through Formal Assessment of the Neonate

At Medical Center Hospital of Vermont a program was designed and implemented to expand the nurse's role through formal assessment and documentation of the neonate. Assessment criteria from NAACOG's Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Functions and Standards were used to develop new Newborn Nursery Standards. The staff prepared for the expanded role through inservice programs that were videotaped for future orientation of new staff members. Over one year after implementation of the new standards, the nursing staff is functioning easily in its expanded role.