The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program is designed for the period following resuscitation of the newborn until care is transferred to the neonatal transport team or members of the neonatal ICU team. This mnemonic-based tool focuses on the post-resusctiaton care of sick neonates, including physical assessment, problem recognition and patient management. The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program is a concise, directive tool to help maternal/child healthcare providers to organize the myriad of details and interventions necessary to provide care to a sick and/or premature infant. The program has also evolved to serve as an orientation tool for the neonatal ICU. The following material is covered in this program:

• Sugar – initial IV therapy, neonates at risk to develop hypoglycemia, safe use of central lines, treatment of hypoglycemia;
• Temperature – the detrimental effects and consequences of hypothermia and prevention of hypothermia;
• Airway – assessment of respiratory distress, challenging patients, initial ventilator therapy and blood gas assessment;
• Blood pressure – the causes and presentation of hypovolemic, cardiogenic and septic shock;
• Lab work – neonatal sepsis and CBC interpretation;
• Emotional support – the crisis that parents experience with birth of a sick baby and how to support parents during this crisis.
• This program is presented by experts in neonatal nursing or medicine (a strict requirement of the national office and program director), in a didactic/interactive format. An animated CD-ROM (or program slides if preferred) are utilized to guide the course presentation. A validated pre- and post-test are utilized to assess changes in knowledge.

• Used with permission by The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program.

• • Overview of the S.T.A.B.L.E. Program and Neonatal Stabilization Responsibilities
  • Section One: Sugar Module
  • Section Two: Temperature Module
  • Section Three: Airway Module
  • Section Four: Blood Pressure Module
  • Section Five: Lab Work Module
  • Section Six: Emotional Support Module
  • Quality Improvement/Case Study