NICU baby skin is sensitive and often requires proper wound care, either from a lack of development or other treatments required by the NICU staff. Media Esser, a board-certified wound nurse shares common causes of skin damage, suggestions on making wound care easier and tried and true rules of thumb when caring for damaged neonate skin.
In this episode, we chat about:
What is a wound care specialist?
What is it that makes NICU/micropreemie babies’ skin so sensitive?
What are some common causes of skin damage in the NICU?
What are some questions parents or caregivers should ask to ensure they understand wound care treatment and techniques?
How do you know when what you’re doing is hurting, or helping, your baby’s skin?
What are some rules of thumb you use as a wound care specialist when working with NICU skin?
What is your best advice to a parent who is feeling overwhelmed by their baby’s wound care treatment or care?
Media Esser is a nurse scientist, neonatal nurse practitioner and board-certified wound nurse, currently in a Level II NICU in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dr. Esser also holds the position of Assistant Professor and Neonatal NP Program Chair at Alverno College in Milwaukee. She is a consultant for evidence-based practice, a NICU review course content, quality improvement, skincare research, and she presents on all those topics on a local and national level. Dr. Esser is passionate about neonatal skincare, specifically diaper dermatitis in the NICU, and has published many manuscripts and chapters on the topic.
Links to Media’s research:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Media-Esser
Connect with Media:
National Association of Neonatal Nurses: https://my.nann.org/myprofile/profile?UserKey=a5ab1838-c37d-4dfe-8ed1-7de4d8c12dca
The NICU is hard. We’re here to help.
Hand to Hold is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents with personalized emotional support, educational resources and community before, during and after their baby’s NICU stay. NICU support is available at no cost to NICU parents in English and Spanish.
Connect with Hand to Hold:
Learn more or get support at handtohold.org
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The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Music: Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license