Incubator

Neonatal Nursing

3 min read

Table of Contents

An incubator is a device used to grow and maintain microbiological cultures or cell cultures. The incubator maintains optimal temperature, humidity and other conditions such as the CO₂ and oxygen content of the atmosphere inside.

Functions

Oxygenation through oxygen supplementation by oxy hood or nasal cannula or even continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP) or mechanical ventilation.
Observation: Modern incubator care involves sophisticated measurement of temperature, respiration, cardiac function, oxygenation, and brain activity.
Protection from cold temperatures, infection, noise, draughts, and excess handling.
Provision of nutrients through IV catheters.
Administration of medications.
Maintaining fluid balance by providing fluid and keeping a high air humidity to prevent a great loss from skin and respiratory evaporation

Types

Transport incubator: It is an incubator in a transportable format and is used when a sick or premature baby is moved, for example, from one hospital to another. It usually has a miniature ventilator, cardiorespiratory monitor, IV pump, pulse oximeter, and oxygen supply built into its frame.
Servo controlled incubator: (1) Single-wall incubator and (2) double-walled incubator.

Nurse’s Responsibility

Identify and correct the alarm situations to avoid patient injury.
The incubator should always be prewarmed before placing the newborn in it.
The infant should be when it and warmly wrapped in blankets when removed from the warm environment of the incubator for feeding or cuddling
Cover the head of the baby both when inside and outside to prevent heat loss.
Frequent monitoring of a baby’s temperature is needed.
Adjust the temperature of the incubator by setting the upper and lower limits of desired circulating air temperature range.
The servo control is usually set to a desired skin temperature between 36 and 36.5°С.
If the baby’s body temperature drops, the warming device is triggered to increase heat output.
Watch for accidental detachment of sensor probe from baby’s skin that may leads to false registration of infant’s skin temperature to rise and overheat the infant.
The port holes of the incubator should not be opened frequently because frequent opening may cause convective heat loss when newborns are exposed to increase airflow velocity and turbulence. Plan the nursing care in such a way that it will not disturb the babies and prevent unnecessary exposure to outside air.
Never leave the baby unattended when access door or hand ports or canopy is open to avoid any risk of an infant falling out of an incubator.
When using KMC along with incubator care, the temperature of the baby must be monitored constantly.
Always disconnect power supply before cleaning and disinfecting the incubator.
Follow the hospital protocol for disinfecting.
To avoid any risk of infection, clean and disinfect incubator and accessories before any use.
The water for humidification should be changed frequently.

REFERENCES

Annamma Jacob, Rekha, Jhadav Sonali Tarachand: Clinical Nursing Procedures: The Art of Nursing Practice, 5th Edition, March 2023, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN-13: 978-9356961845 ISBN-10: 9356961840
Omayalachi CON, Manual of Nursing Procedures and Practice, Vol 1, 3 Edition 2023, Published by Wolters Kluwer’s, ISBN: 978-9393553294
Sandra Nettina, Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice, 11th Edition, January 2019, Published by Wolters Kluwer’s, ISBN-13:978-9388313285
Marcia London, Ruth Bindler, Principles of Paediatric Nursing: Caring for Children, 8th Edition, 2023, Pearson Publications, ISBN-13: 9780136859840
Naveen Bajaj, Rajesh Kumar, Manual of Newborn Nursing, 2nd Edition, 2023, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN:978-9354659294.
Ernstmeyer K, Christman E, editors. Nursing Fundamentals [Internet]. 2nd edition. Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2024. PART IV, NURSING PROCESS. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK610818/

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