Nurse: patient ratios influence the achievement of oxygen saturation targets in premature Infants

Abstract

Addressing optimum saturation limits is essential to limit the incidence of morbidity related to oxygen damage namely retinopathy of prematurity and chronic lung disease. ■ Nurses caring for premature neonates should be mindful of the long-term consequences of neonatal care; oxygen therapy is one factor that must be considered. ■ The study highlights the issue of what is the optimum saturation range in premature neonates in relation to improving outcomes for this population. This is an area still to be agreed and which is the subject of ongoing, prospective trials. ■ As it is not feasible to make fi rm links between staffing and patient outcomes based on a small study using single unit data, there is a need for this study to be replicated on a wider scale.