Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)

WHAT IS THE Neonatal Resuscitation Program?
The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is an educational program designed to teach life support skills to all health care providers that are present at the birth of a baby. Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Heart Association, this program has been recently updated to incorporate the latest information on how to prevent and treat newborn respiratory depression.

WHY IS NRP IMPORTANT?
The first few minutes of an infant's life are very important in determining the health of the child. About 10% of all newborns require some degree of resuscitation. Because the need can arise without warning, it is important that all personnel that are present when a baby is born be competent in neonatal resuscitation.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF NRP?
The goal of NRP is to have at least one person at every delivery whose only responsibility is the baby and who is capable of initiating resuscitation. It is also the goal to have an additional person who can perform a complete resuscitation (including intubation and medications) readily available if needed. The goal of the Office of Perinatal Continuing Education at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is to have at least two hospital based NRP instructors in each hospital in Oklahoma that delivers babies.

WANT TO BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR?
Physicians, registered nurses, respiratory care practitioners, physician assistants, and other health care professionals who have experience in the delivery room, nursery, or special care setting may become instructors. Ideally NRP instructors have ongoing delivery room experience. Instructors are selected for their experience in newborn care, ability to learn and teach resuscitation procedures, and ability to implement and maintain the NRP enthusiastically.

The Office of Perinatal Continuing Education offers NRP Instructor Courses three times a year. Obtain more information by calling (405) 271-7777.