Nursing an Infant on CPAP

This course has been awarded 7 CME credit hours by the Department of Health (Abu Dhabi)

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is the application of positive pressure to the airways of spontaneously breathing neonates throughout the respiratory cycle. NCPAP is a relatively simple and effective therapy for respiratory distress syndrome when used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

This course has been developed to teach Neonatal and Paediatric ICU Nurses about the optimal management of RDS in neonates, with a focus on the appropriate use of non-invasive ventilation in the critical hours after delivery.

Course topics include

• Principals of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
• Application of CPAP
• Airway Management - NPCAP

On completion of the course, you should be able to

• Understand the pulmonary pathophysiology underlying the development of neonatal RDS and the impact non-invasive ventilator support has on this
• Describe the rationale for using continuous positive airway pressure as a modality of non-invasive respiratory support for the infant with RDS
• Develop strategies for optimal management of neonatal RDS within the delivery room using the most updated resuscitation guidelines and evidence
• Establish appropriate treatment protocols for the management of neonatal RDS within your own clinical environment, including decision making tools for the use of nasal high flow therapy in the preterm infant
• Describe the future developments in non-invasive ventilation techniques for neonatal RDS