L E T T E R S

Author Acknowledges Grant This letter is to acknowledge the support of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) for its financial contribution through the NANN research grant for “Efficacy of Heparin in Peripheral Venous Infusion in Neonates” (May/June 1992 JOGNN. I want to recognize NANN for its commitment to neona- tal nursing research as well as to thank the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), formerly NAACOG, for providing the forum for the dissemination of research findings.

Leslie Schaaf Treas Neonatal Nurse Practitioner St. Luke’s Perinatal Center Kansas City, MO

Breastfeeding Quadruplets The case study by Mead, Chuffo, Lawlor-Klean, and Meier, “Breast- feeding Success With Preterm Quadruplets” (May/June 1992 JOG“), was both fascinating and important to note for several rea- sons. Too often, breastfeeding is not even considered an option with multiple births. Barriers to breast- feeding may be erected soon after confirmation of a multiple preg- nancy. “ I don’t think I could do it,” “Glad it’s you and not me,” “You won’t have enough milk,” “How will you ever sleep through the night,” and “You’ll have to quit your job” are a few of the com- ments I heard in a recent prenatal breastfeeding class I taught when a mother carrying triplets walked into the room.

Negative attitudes, lack of guidelines, and a belief that breast-

milk and breastfeeding are not valu- able are obstacles commonly en- countered by women wishing to breastfeed more than one infant. The JOG” article was well done, with a logical, research-based ap- proach that would lend itself well to becoming part of breastfeeding protocols in postpartum and neona- tal intensive-care units units.

I will also add that follow-up support may be found through the services of a lactation consultant (in the hospital or in the commu- nity). Such help may be located through the International Lactation Consultant Association, 201 Brown Ave., Evanston, IL 60202.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC President, Lactation Associates Weston, M A

Preventing Neonatal Kidnapping In “Letters” (May/June 1992 JOG”), a staff nurse in Massachu- setts found the use of security sys- tems for newborns unsatisfactory. During the last 3 years, I have con- ducted more than 460 protection assessments of hospital maternal/ child units and presented the joint NAACOG/NANN/NCMEC profes- sional education program, “Safe- guard Their Tomorrows” to more than 33,000 nursing, hospital secu- rity, and risk-management profes- sionals. Therefore, I would like to offer this counterpoint of view.

Safeguarding newborns re- quires a comprehensive program

1 The JOG” editor welcomes readers’ comments. Address letters to editor, JOGNN, 409 12th St., SW, Washington, DC 20024-2191. All letters should be typed double- space and signed by the author. Let- ters will be published at the editor’s discretion, and JOG” reserves the right to edit all letters.

of hospital policy, teamwork by nursing, parents, and security, as well a5 various elements of elec- tronic security. Collectively, all three elements serve to harden the target of potential abductors. With- out question, the first two can and should be immediately imple- mented at all hospitals.

Electronic security measures are simply modern tools used to back up hospital policy and nurs- ing practices. Not only do these de- vices serve to further discourage or deter potential abductors, they also enhance the ability of nursing and security to work as a team.

Several technologies are avail- able for this purpose (bracelet alarms, closed circuit television, and access control) and each, or some combination, provides sev- eral benefits. First, these systems are reliable when properly in- stalled. (Perhaps the staff nurse who wrote earlier should have that system thoroughly checked by the vendor or a competent consultant.) These systems are constantly vigi- lant, unaffected by distractions, breaks, or shift changes. Second, and more importantly, these sys- tems serve to document and deter, not prevent an abduction. Infant tag alarms, coupled with closed circuit television (CCTV), not only serve to document a potential ab- duction if it occurs, they also help to resolve and document false alarms of systems (varying accord- ing to manufacturer) for supervi- sory follow-up and quality assur- ance. Additionally, CCTV cameras and alarm panels, coupled with se- curity signs, serve as a visual de- terrent to the potential abductor. Such systems clearly raise the risk of being apprehended and the po- tential for immediately locating the abductor and recovering any new- born taken.

Electronic security enhance- ments also help the legal position of a hospital should an abduction

J O G N N 15 January/February 1993

L E T T E R S

occur. When a hospital has had the foresight to be proactive in reduc- ing abduction risks, mitigation of damages awarded against the hospi- tal generally has been the result in the cases litigated.

In closing, I would hope that others would not be persuaded to abandon the need for electronic se- curity as part of their newborn pro- tection policy. Reputable vendors have greatly increased their knowl- edge and their commitment to this

element of the health-care in- dustry. Additionally, I would urge nursing and security to work to- gether in these areas and, with the help of a credible vendor, create an effective deterrent to infant abduc- tion. The National Center for Miss- ing and Exploited Children offers technical assistance at no cost via calling, toll-free, 2-800-THE-LOST and the free publication, For Hospi- tal Professionals: Guidelines on Preventing Abduction of Infants

From the Hospital. These policies in no way diminish the empower- ment of the parents in their respon- sibilities to their newborn. To- gether, we can safeguard their to- morrows.

John B. Rabun, Jr., ACSW Vice President and Chief

National Center for Missing and

Arlington, VA

Operating Ojicer

Exploited Children

Rebecca Attenborough, RN, MN Cheryl Ta tano Beck, CNM, DNSc Maud Beeching-Low, RNC, MSN Pamela Butler Beeman, RN, PhD J o a n Rosen Bloch, RNC, MSN Judi th A. Carveth, RN, CNM, PhD Monica Choi, MSN Gwen E. Chute, RN, MS, IBCLC Judi th M. Collinge, RNC, MSc(A), MBA Beth A. Collins, RNC, PhD Margaret Comerford Freda, RN, EdD,

Cather ine Garner, RNC, MSN, MPA Susan Gennaro, RN, DSN Peggy Gordin, RNC, MS

FAN N

JOCNN REVIEWERS Laurie P. Gunderson, RN, PhD Kathleen Haubrich, RNC, MSN Maureen Heaman, RN, MN Mary Henrikson, RNc, MN, ARNP Marcia Hilse, RNC, BSN Patr ic ia A. J a m e r s o n , RNC, MSN,

Susan Dow Johnson , RNC, MSN Mary Jones , RN, PhD Pamela L. Jo rdan , RN, PhD Margaret H. Kearney, RNC Linda Kobokovich, MScN Vicki A. Lucas, RNC, PhD Lynn E. Lynam, RNC, MS Jud i th Maloni, RN, PhD

CCE, CBE

Linnea J. Mead, RN, MSN, PNP B a r b a r a Medoff-Cooper, PhD, CRNP,

Paula Meier, RN, DNSc Mary Ann Miller, RN, PhD Angella Olden, RN, MS Nancy Prince, RN, MS Deborah A n n Raines, RNC, MSN J a c q u e Repke, RN, MSN Betty Schlatter, CNM, PhD Shar l een H. Simpson, PhD, ARNP Linda Staurovsky, RN, CNM, MN Melinda Tinkle, RNC, PhD Susan E. Trippet , RN, DSN

FAAN

16 J O G N N