Holley SL, Green K, Mills M, Detterman C, Rappold MF, Thayer S. Educating Parents on Vitamin K Prophylaxis for Newborns.
Nurs Womens Health 2020;
24:283-293. [PMID:
32778394 DOI:
10.1016/j.nwh.2020.05.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Vitamin K is important in the clotting cascade, and vitamin K prophylaxis is important in preventing vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in newborns. Breastfed newborns have been found to be particularly vulnerable to VKDB. Although oral vitamin K is available, there is no version for newborns approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and if a dose is missed, the risk of VKDB may more than double. Therefore, an injection is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to prevent VKDB in newborns. Nurses often administer the newborn vitamin K injection, and they play a key role in educating parents and helping them make informed decisions about vitamin K prophylaxis for their newborns.
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