Description

The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program provides essential information about neonatal stabilization for maternal/infant caregivers in all settings and focuses exclusively on the post-resuscitation/pre-transport stabilization care of sick infants. S.T.A.B.L.E. stands for the 6 assessment parameters covered in the program: Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood pressure, Lab work, and Emotional support for the family. A seventh module, Quality Improvement, stresses the importance of professional responsibility of improving and evaluating care provided to sick infants. Neonatal assessment and stabilization guidelines are offered in each module. Prevention of adverse events and delivery of safe patient care are stressed throughout the program.

The new seventh edition has been updated to stay current with changes in neonatal care and includes a new feature, “Let’s Learn More,” that delves deeper into topics. The Sugar module is organized into 7 Guidelines and Care Recommendations with a new recommendation to use dextrose gel for the at-risk infant who is healthy enough to feed. New full-color illustrations are included throughout each module to explain difficult concepts.

Comprehensively reviewed by highly regarded neonatologists, nurses, and respiratory therapists, The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program is considered the follow-up, complementary program to resuscitation education.

Dr Kristine Karlsen is a neonatal nurse practitioner who has been involved in neonatal care in a variety of settings including transport, education, patient care, and simulation for more than 40 years. She is the founder of the internationally recognized S.T.A.B.L.E. Program and author and developer of The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program Pretransport / Postresuscitation stabilization neonatal education course, The S.T.A.B.L.E.– Cardiac Module course (book and slide program), the STABLEize™ app (for Apple and Android), and The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program’s Gestational Age and Physical Assessment of the Newborn slide program. More than 850,000 students have completed a S.T.A.B.L.E. Program course, and the Program is taught in more than 45 countries.

The S.T.A.B.L.E. Learner Manual, 7^th edition received the highest Doody’s Book Review rating possible – 5 stars! Doody’s is the premier review organization that assesses newly published clinical books.  Here’s what the neonatology expert wants you to know! 

Neonatology Reviewer’s Expert Opinion

Post-resuscitation/Pre-transport Stabilization Care of Sick Infants: Guidelines for Neonatal Caregivers, 7th Ed. By Karlsen, Kristine A., PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, FAAN

Description: This book has become a major educational tool for the post resuscitation and pre-transport care of sick newborn infants. It has been used for over 28 years, teaching over 800,000 students in 55 countries. The previous edition was published in 2013.

Purpose: The purpose of the book is to teach bedside providers about post-resuscitation care and stabilization of sick newborn infants in the first few hours of life, or prior to transport to a higher-level facility. While the neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) has taught resuscitation to millions of providers through the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association, this book builds on that model to teach about important stabilization processes once resuscitation has been successful. The goals are to standardize processes and approaches to care, encourage teamwork, and reduce or eliminate preventable errors or adverse events.

Audience: The audience for this manual is bedside providers, usually at Level 1 facilities where there may not be an NICU, and sick babies must be stabilized prior to transport. However, nurses, medical students and other less experienced providers may use the book to learn the basics of neonatal stabilization after resuscitation. The creator and author, Kris Karlsen, has gained worldwide recognition for this project and she has recruited nationally known content reviewers to make sure the book is correct and up to date with the latest advances in neonatology.

Features: The acronym S.T.A.B.L.E. defines this book. Each letter stands for a module in the text:  Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood Pressure, Lab Work, and Emotional Support. In the last several editions, an additional module on quality improvement has been added. Each module goes through a step-by-step approach to the clinical condition with clear and beautiful color pictures, charts, tables, and other learner-friendly illustrations. The font is readable, and the art is clear and appropriate to the text. The book would benefit from adding an online feature with videos and other learning adjuncts. 

 Assessment: There is no comparable educational manual of this type available. Although a student can find chapters in textbooks on the post resuscitation care of newborns, this manual covers the entire subject in a very concise and up-to-date manner. The book reviews newer aspects in the field such as therapeutic hypothermia so that primary providers can recognize the need for this therapy and refer patients to appropriate care even if they do not provide this care at their facility. This book should be part of the essential education of neonatal providers in Level 1 facilities.

Doody’s Weighted Numerical Score: 99 – 5 Stars!