Neonatal Nursing: A Global Perspective

This textbook is written in line with the Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) vision for global unity for neonatal nursing. The core values and goals of COINN are based on excellence and advocacy for high quality newborn care, as well as respecting diversity by integrating cultural norms and values among the care of newborns and their families.  The book promotes neonatal nursing as a global speciality through evidence, research, and education of neonatal nurses; and offers key examples of the millennium goals and global outcomes, as well as variations in outcomes for babies.

The first part focuses on global perspectives of neonatal nursing from different continents aligning with the World Health Organizations’ global regions: (The Americas -USA, Canada and South America-, Western Pacific region -Australia and New Zealand-, European region -UK and Europe-, African region, South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean region. For each region, education and competencies, challenges and opportunities, research and evidence-based practice (EBP) as well as practice regulations are described. The second part elaborates on key topics for neonatal nursing across the globe, such as the continuity of neonatal care in the community, patient and family centered care in neonatal settings, sleep and brain development, the fundamental care needs of the neonate and family and global perspectives on hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and hypoxia. Written in a formal academic but reader style, using key literature and evidence, this textbook enables an understanding from a large audience with academic levels and experience, both staff and students, bedside nurses, advanced practice nurses, midwifes and allied professionals. In addition, first person story based reflective narrative are interspersed throughout the book to capture the perspectives of nurses, staff and parents, in the form of vignettes. 

This textbook is aimed at neonatal nurses across the world as well as current and aspiring students in this field.

Julia Petty (EdD, BSc, MSc, MA, RGN/RSCN, PGCE, PFHEA, NTF) Associate Professor (learning and teaching) and Senior Lecturer in children’s nurse education at the University of Hertfordshire, has previously worked as a neonatal and children’s nurse clinical educator and neonatal course leader.  She currently also works for the UK national vaccination programme as a deputy vaccination centre manager. In her associate professor and lecturer roles, she is responsible for the curriculum development, delivery and quality assurance of a range of generic, children’s and neonatal modules offered at the University of Hertfordshire, England. As well as being on the board of Directors of the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN), she is a Principal Fellow and National Teaching Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (Advance HE), and an executive member and vice chair of the UK Neonatal Nurses Association (UK NNA). She has a key role on the editorial board for the Journalof Neonatal Nursing including the coordination of the COINN and UK NNA News pages. Julia is also a newborn life support instructor for the UK Resuscitation Council and a coach for the UK Council of Deans Student Leadership programme. She has a range of publications including textbooks and journal papers on neonatal and children’s nursing care and health.

Tracey Jones (MSc, BSc, PGDHE, ENNP, RN Child) is a Senior Lecturer in Neonate's, Children and Young People's Nursing Education at the University of Manchester. She is responsible for the development, delivery and quality assurance of the Intensive care of the new-born course, the newborn infant physical examination course and the enhancing neonatal nursing courses offered at the University of Manchester. She is a senior fellow of the higher education academy and acts as a mentor for new lecturers and educators embarking on the HIE application process. Her book ‘The Student Guide to the Newborn Infant Physical Examination’ was published in 2019. Tracey is also a specialist advisor for the Care Quality Commission and was part of the team writing the recent RCN neonatal standards. She is part of the editorial board for the Journal of Neonatal Nursing. She chairs the COINN education committee and is a non-executive director on the board for COINN.  She has recently been involved in a working group developing standards for neonatal nursing in the UK and a career pathway for advanced neonatal nurse practitioners. Tracey is an NLS instructor and part of the GIC faculty training new instructors.    

Agnes van den Hoogen (PhD, RN) is a Professor and researcher at the University Medical Centre of Utrecht (UMCU) – Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, and senior lecturer at Utrecht University. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the EFCNI (European Foundation for the care of newborn infants) where she was involved as vice Chair for Standards of Carefor Newborn Health in Europe regarding ‘Education and Training for nurses and midwives’. She is also a member of WHO working group for Maternal Health and Newborns and was involved in WHO development of Goal for child survival (MDG-4, to reduce Global Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Morbidity and Mortality). She is on the board of Directors of the Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN).

Karen Walker (Phd, MN BAppsc RGN RSCN) is the President, Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN), a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Sydney and the Neonatal Clinical Nurse Consultant at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia. She is an honorary research fellow with the George Institute for Global Health and the current President of the Council of International Neonatal Nurses. She is past president of the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses,  a founding member of the Alliance for Global Neonatal Nurses (ALLIGN)and a board member of the Global Alliance for Newborn Care (GLANCE), a parent led global organisation. She worked with the World Health Organisation developing a road-map on Human Resources for Health: Strategies for improving neonatal care capacity in facility settings in low- and middle-income countries and is the co-chair of the Knowledge and Evidence working group of the Partnership for Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health (PMNCH). She is also working on the revision of the WHO/UNICEF Every Newborn Action Plan and education modules for the WHO Care of the small and sick newborn course. Karen has published widely and is an invited national and international speaker.

Carole Kenner (PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP, ANEF) is the CEO, Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN). She specialized in neonatal/perinatal nursing for her master’s and obtained a minor in higher education for her doctorate. She has authored more than 100 journal articles and 30 textbooks. Carole's career is dedicated to nursing education and to the health of neonates and their families, as well as educational and professional development of healthcare practices in neonatology. She is a recognized leader and expert in neonatal nursing and higher education.  Her passion led her to begin the journal Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews, which she served as Editor and then Associate Editor. She worked with the National Coalition on Health Professions Education in Genetics (NCHPEG) and the American Nurses Association to develop genetic competencies. She serves on the Consensus Committee of Neonatal Intensive Care Design Standards, which sets recommendations for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit designs and serves on the March of Dimes Nursing Advisory Committee. She is the 2011 recipient of the Audrey Hepburn Award for Contributions to the Health and Welfare of Children internationally.