A Spoonful of Sugar: Utilizing Dextrose Gel Reverses Neonatal Hypoglycemia and Decreases Admissions to the NICU

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Title: A Spoonful of Sugar: Utilizing Dextrose Gel Reverses Neonatal Hypoglycemia and Decreases Admissions to the NICU

Promenade Ballroom (Long Beach Convention Center)
Catherine Bennett, APN, CNS , Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL
Elyse Headtke, MSN , Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Palos Hills, IL
Meg Rowe-Telow, BS, RNC , Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL

Discipline: Newborn Care (N), Women’s Health (WH)

Learning Objectives:
  • 1. Identify the effects of neonatal hypoglycemia on bonding, breastfeeding
  • 2. Describe challenges associated with implementation of a new protocol.
  • 3. Summarize the effectiveness of dextrose gel on the reversal of neonatal hypoglycemia.

    • Submission Description:
    Neonatal hypoglycemia affects as many as 5-15% of neonates. The incidence is increasing as the number of preterm births and cases of maternal diabetes increases. Neonatal hypoglycemia may necessitate an admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) which increases the cost of care and interferes with maternal infant interaction, bonding and breastfeeding. A nursing led multidisciplinary team at a tertiary hospital developed a hypoglycemia protocol including dextrose gel. NICU admissions were reduced from 11% to 2%. The implementation process will be presented.

    See more of: Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Research Project Poster Presentations
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    The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.