The 6-week baby check is an opportunity to review the health and wellbeing of the new mother and her baby. Not only is it important to check baby’s development and screen for potential health issues, but it's also a good time to discuss safe sleeping, whānau relationships, check on the new mother's mood and support systems, and offer help where needed.
In this webinar, Karen Hoare, nurse practitioner for children and young people, will cover the essentials of the check, what to do if any concerns are found, and how to develop a system to approach the consultation. Karen will cover;
- Context and purpose of the 6-week check (parenting, baby’s health development, health promotion, vaccinations).
- Physical and neurological examination – top to toe systematic review. Tips for eye, hearts, hips and genital exams.
- Management of abnormal findings.
- Putting it all together.
Resources
- Hip reflex video
- Well Child tamariki ora assessments 4-6 weeks book HealthEd
- Safe sleep calculator Curekids
- Patient health questionnaire (phq-9) MD+Calc
- Edinburgh postnatal depression scale
Presenter
Associate Professor Karen Hoare
Karen is a Nurse Practitioner for children and young people, and works in partnership with four GPs in a practice in South Auckland.
Karen has implemented a number of models of care into general practice that result in case managing infants, children and young people. Additionally she leads the school-based health service collaboration between Greenstone Family Clinic and Counties Manukau DHB. This collaboration includes NPs and GPs from Greenstone Family Clinic working with school nurses in three high schools in Manurewa. Karen signs the standing orders for the school nurses. She recently moved to Massey University as an Associate Professor to take on the role as Director of the postgraduate nursing programme and nurse practitioner training programme.
Prior to her Massey appointment, she worked for 10 years in a joint role as a Senior Lecturer across the School of Nursing and the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care within the University of Auckland. Originally trained as a children’s nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, and then as a Health Visitor, her experiences working with infants, children and young people span the globe. Karen immigrated to New Zealand from the UK in 2003.
