The NLS course has been developed to provide clear practical instruction in the resuscitation of babies at and immediately after birth. It is designed for all health workers, regardless of their discipline or status, who may be called upon to resuscitate a newborn baby.
Aims of the NLS course
Having read the manual and completed an NLS course you should:
- understand the physiological processes underlying apnoea, bradycardia and poor condition at birth after a hypoxic insult.
- be able to anticipate which babies may have problems, assess a baby at birth and recognise those who require additional help.
- be able to describe and follow the principles of a standardized approach to the resuscitation of babies in need of assistance at birth, emphasising the overriding importance of airway management and lung inflation, and the limited role for chest compressions and drugs.
- have had practical experience in appropriate handling of the equipment used in newborn resuscitation.
- have learned core skills in the management of the newborn airway, including strategies to help in situations where the initial attempt at lung inflation is unsuccessful.
- have been taught, performed and, in respect of the management of Airway and Breathing, been assessed on (using manikins) the following skills:
- Airway management, and lung inflation and aeration
- Direct laryngoscopic inspection of the oropharynx
- Delivery of chest compressions
- Obtaining umbilical venous access
- have practised and received constructive feedback about the immediate management of newborn emergencies in simulations with an appreciation of the importance of communication and teamwork
- have demonstrated, in a test simulation using manikins, the core skills of airway management of a newborn infant and subsequent, structured, management steps if initial attempts are unsuccessful.
- have developed a framework for succinct recording and effective communication of important details of the baby’s condition at birth and the response to resuscitation.
- have practised the skills needed and developed an approach to newborn resuscitation during the first 10–20 minutes after birth as a basis to build upon with further mentored clinical training, which will permit achievement of clinical competence.