Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Skin Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Assessment Study

Abstract

he neonate's skin is the body's most significant protective system. Neonatal skin breakdown is linked to admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (Abkenar, 2020& Javaheri, 2020). Over 90% of skin breakdown in newborns is linked to interventional medical devices. Diaper rashes, skin tears, and burns have all been recorded in neonates because of iatrogenic skin injury (Liversedge, 2018). Newborns have immature body systems and a small body size of neonates, so neonatal nursing care should be provided with great sensitivity. Neonates’ skin is particularly immature and susceptible to injuries and can be easily damaged during care, monitoring, and manipulation (Asgari , 2017). Neonatal skin care plays an important role as a protective and regulatory barrier between the body and the external environment, particularly for hospitalized newborns with varying degrees of underdeveloped skin structures and functions of great interest to neonatal nurses (Tavares, 2020). It is more susceptible to trauma and infection and requires special care, where the neonatal skin care is needed to prevent potential skin breakdown, impede the percutaneous entry of pathogens and prevent dehydration of the internal organs,