Newborn Nursery Teaching Attending Guide: Module 4. Newborn Ballard Exam

Abstract

Abstract This resource is a part of a seven-module curriculum intended to provide teaching faculty caring for well newborns with accessible, approachable, easily delivered, hands-on tools for bedside teaching in the newborn nursery. The seven modules are linked. This module focuses on the demonstration of the Ballard Exam. The template for a Ballard examination is frequently not incorporated into electronic health records and is consequently not being performed as frequently and systematically at our institutions. Medical student, residents, and nursing students have less familiarity with the components of a Ballard examination and are less likely to be able to systematically assess infant gestational age in the absence of formal introduction to the topic. The video was produced as an educational tool by the authors and is used in nursing and physician education at our institutions. The checklist was added and modeled after a newborn physical examination checklist created for our medical students and residents. The checklist was trialed at University of Michigan and Oregon Health & Science University where it has been incorporated as a standard in resident education. Students found the video particularly helpful. The examination can be difficult for first time learners, in particular the neuromuscular maturity portion. Early learners may focus on the physical maturity portion. The video also allows for an opportunity to discuss hand hygiene in patient care. Hand hygiene is of critical importance in the care of all patients, but especially when caring for newborns.

Keywords

• Newborn Infant
• Nurseries
• Ballard-Dubowitz