Date of Award

Spring 2022

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Barbara McClaskey

Second Advisor

Dr. Kristi Frisbee

Third Advisor

Dr. Greg Belcher

Abstract

An Abstract of the Scholarly Project by

Cassie McCarthy

The purpose of this retrospective project is to assess the effectiveness of a completed quality improvement project via chart review. The project utilized glucose gel as a first line therapy for the management neonatal hypoglycemia in at-risk infants. Neonatal hypoglycemia is the most common metabolic abnormality and is associated with many undesirable side effects. Current treatment methods such as formula feeding and IV therapy are costly, invasive, and disruptive to family bonding. This study consisted of a retrospective chart review of a pre-glucose gel group, six months prior to the introduction of glucose gel, as well as a post-glucose gel group, fifteen months after introduction of glucose gel. A survey tool was utilized during chart reviews of the pre and post groups to determine if an infant was considered “at-risk” (small for gestational age, large for gestational age, infants born prior to 37 weeks gestation, and infants born to diabetic mothers), to which “at-risk” category the patient belonged to, if glucose gel was utilized, if an IV start was necessary, and if the IV was started for management of hypoglycemia. The data collected was assessed using descriptive statistics to determine if the intervention of glucose gel decreased rates of infant IV therapy in the post group as compared to the pre group. If data analysis supports the use of glucose gel for treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia this would suggest the need for practice change to include glucose gel as a viable treatment method for neonatal hypoglycemia.

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