Overview of Newborn Nursery Standardized Order Changes
| Outcome | Old Nursery Orders | New Nursery Orders |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B virus vaccination | Physicians must “opt in,” ie, specifically order the vaccine | Physicians must “opt out,” ie, specifically order that no vaccine be given |
| Discharge follow-up recommendations | No guidance | Recommendations based on infant's age at discharge, transcutaneous bilirubin result before discharge, and jaundice risk factors, including breastfeeding. Follow-up intervals based on AAP recommendations.4 |
| GBS disease prevention | If the mother was positive for GBS, infant's vital signs were measured more frequently | Follow CDC recommendations including observation for 48 hours for many infants.2Orders differ from CDC guideline by requiring only complete blood counts, and not blood cultures, for certain infants. |
GBS, group B streptococcal; AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.