4 weeks
AI Course Director
Danielle Browning, DO
Director, Medical Student and Resident Education
browningdn@chp.edu
Course Description
A 4-week neonatal intensive care unit acting internship at Magee-Womens Hospital NICU through the Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. Students have the same clinical responsibilities as the pediatric interns, including spending time in our Triage unit and giving a presentation on a core Neonatology topic. The NICU team is made up of an attending neonatologist, neonatal-perinatal medicine fellows, an advanced practice provider (PA or NP), pediatric interns, neonatal nurses, and other specialized providers, including pharmacists, nutritionists and therapists.
Students will assume a panel of up to 4 patients and be responsible for evaluation, performing procedures, formulating plans for these patients. Students will have the opportunity to perform procedures such as arterial puncture, umbilical arterial or venous catheterization, lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, paracentesis, and endotracheal intubation under the supervision of NICU staff.
The NICU is covered at night and on weekends by an attending neonatologist, NICU fellow, senior resident and a team of neonatal nurse practitioners.
Students will not be required to take night or weekend call. Students will attend radiology rounds and other educational talks. Up to one student per rotation can be accommodated to maximize the experience.
Course Objectives
- Assume patient care responsibilities under the direction of a supervising advanced practice provider (APP), NICU Fellow, and attending physician. This will include obtaining complete history, performing a thorough physical examination on full-term and premature infants, interpreting laboratory data, formulating management plans, communicating with parents, families and involved medical staff in a professional and informative fashion, participation in procedures, and coordination of discharge plans with accompanying documentation.
- The student will recognize the signs and symptoms of cardiorespiratory disease in newborns, know the various etiologies of cardiorespiratory failure in a term and premature newborn. The student will become familiar with the pathophysiology of term and preterm infants.
- Enhance clinical efficiency, organizational skills and task prioritization.
- Interpret laboratory results and common radiographic studies pertaining to patients. When opportunity presents, review pertinent imaging studies with Pediatric Radiologist at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
- Attend and participate in formal teaching sessions: radiology rounds and neuroradiology rounds. Attend and participate as clinical responsibilities will allow in small lecture topics given by either the attending physician or NICU fellow.
- Prepare a concise presentation on a core neonatology topic that could be from a patient encounter or a topic of interest using evidenced based medicine.
- Write a detailed progress note once per week on a word templated document to demonstrate accurate note writing abilities, understanding of the current condition of the neonate with accurate differential diagnosis and plans.
- Spend two afternoons in weeks 3 and 4 of the rotation in our Triage Unit where you will observe and attend deliveries with the senior residents, observe neonatal resuscitation, and have the opportunity to participate in procedures.
- Gain familiarity with and assist with procedures as the opportunity allows, including: Lumbar puncture, umbilical catheterization, endotracheal intubation, arterial puncture, venipuncture, and thoracentesis.
Requirements
Pediatric Clerkship (PEDS 5352)