Abstract
M.Cur. (Intensive General Nursing)
The purpose of this study is to identify nursing guide-lines for the nursing of babies that
received exogenous surfactant. In view of the fact that the exogenous surfactant therapy is
still a very new therapeutic approach for the treatment of hyaline membrane disease there is
still a lot to learn about the complications of the treatment. The professional nurse monitors
the baby after medication was given, and it is therefore necessary to set out nursing guidelines
to guide her in her treatment of the baby.
Ten case-studies were done on 10 babies that have already been submitted to the therapy.
They were selected from Provincial hospitals in the Johannesburg region. Recurrent
events/incidents were identified and used as data from which nursing guide-lines were
compiled. A literature study was done to consult other authors' findings on this topic.
Recommendations were made at the end of the study concerning applications to practise,
education and further research needed.