Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Advanced Elective

Rotation Overview

The student will function as an intern equivalent on the Neonatal ICU teaching service at Blank Children's Hospital. Students will learn to care for critically ill newborns, increase their skill in ventilation and learn application of physiologic principles in critical care. The student will be responsible for the care of selected critically ill neonates under the supervision of senior pediatric residents and staff neonatologists. Teaching rounds will be held daily. Prerequisite for this rotation is completion of a general pediatrics rotation.

Additional information about this advanced elective can be found in the Carver College of Medicine Advanced Pathway Course Descriptions under PEDS:8416.

Objectives

1. Demonstrate competency in providing the initial steps of resuscitation, up to and including bag-mask ventilation in actual delivery room and simulated settings.

2. Obtain a pertinent history, review prenatal or referring hospital records, and perform a complete physical examination upon a patient's admission.

3. Formulate a differential diagnosis and plan appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions under supervision of the attending physician.

4.  Carry out, reassess and reformulate management plans as appropriate.

5. Develop a therapeutic alliance with the patient's family and keep the family informed of the patient's progress.

6. Know the major prenatal and perinatal risk factors, including how these may impact the condition of the newborn.

7. Know the physiology of transition from fetal life to newborn.

8. Communicate and work effectively with the multiple members of the NICU staff.

Resources

1. Iowa Methodist Medical Center Health Sciences Library: Students have 24-hour access, 7 days per week to the library. A student picture UPH-DM picture ID is needed for after-hours entry. Internet and photocopying are available. Students may also call the Health Sciences librarians for assistance at 515-241-6490.

Conferences

1. Morning Report: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 7:30 - 8:00 AM in Hill Auditorium.

2. Pediatric Grand Rounds: Friday from 12:15 - 1:15 PM in Hill Auditorium (September through June).

3. Pediatric Noon Conference: 12:15 - 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday. See monthly schedule for more information.

4. Daily teaching sessions by neonatologists.  

Evaluations and Grading

1. Each student should develop 4 goals for their rotation. These goals and the progress made will be reviewed at the midpoint of the rotation. 

2. Students are expected to upload a picture of the completed and signed mid-rotation evaluation form to ICON to receive full credit.

3. Students will write, and upload in ICON, a 1-page reflection of their experience at the end of the rotation.

4. Students are responsible for initiating on-line evaluations and for completing the CCOM Clerkship evaluation

5. Turn in completed mid-rotation feedback from to Dr. Andrew Cyr.

6. Final grading is determined based on overall performance and ensuring all requirements of the advanced elective are met.

Contact Information

For further information about this rotation, please contact Wendi Kruger, at wendi.kruger@unitypoint.org or in the Consortium office at 515-241-4455.

Office of Student Affairs and Curriculum (OSAC) - Advanced Curriculum Resources