preview

Essay on Noise in the Nicu

Better Essays

Noise in the NICU: Is it too loud? Jamie Nordberg Western Governors University WGU Student ID#000282046 Final Paper Noise in the NICU: Is it too loud? The NICU is often cluttered with loud, unpredictable noises from a variety of sources; such as cardiorespiratory alarms, ventilators, phones, opening and closing of portholes on incubators, and staff conversation. Simple caregiver tasks such as running water, opening packages inside an incubator, disposing of trash in a metal container, and placing formula bottles on a bedside table, all can produce sounds well over recommended levels, some as loud as 75.3 decibels (Johnson, 2003). However, an optimal physical, psychological, and social environment is a necessity for the preterm …show more content…

In a study where exposure to outside stimulus was examined and reduced, infants needed significantly fewer days of respiratory support including ventilators, and also required fewer days of oxygen administration (Pediatrics, 2007). Increases in heart and respiratory rate can lead to increased oxygen consumption and caloric requirements, which will allow for fewer calories available for growth and healing. If stress continues, the initial increase in heart and respiratory rates will cease, and the infant can become bradycardic and apneic, which could lead to a possible hypoxic event and decreased pulmonary function. Premature infants are exceptionally vulnerable because their neurologic systems are still very immature and they cannot selectively limit stimuli or its physiologic impact. During noisy periods, apnea was found most frequently in very preterm babies, and oxygen saturation averaged 90 percent compared to 93 percent during quiet periods (Brown, 2009). In another study, implementation of a quiet time showed a 2mmHg decrease in arterial blood pressure in preterm infants as well as marked decrease in heart rate (Slevin, 2000). Although changes were not significant, blood pressure is a vital aspect of

Get Access