COINN Position Statements
Unifying Neonatal Nurses Globally.
Discover COINN’s Position Statements, where we outline our stance on key issues affecting neonatal nursing globally. These statements reflect our commitment to advancing neonatal care, advocating for best practices, and influencing health policies worldwide. We encourage you to review and engage with our position statements as we work together to shape the future of neonatal nursing.
What Is A Neonatal Nurse?
A Neonatal Nurse specializes in the care of neonates across the continuum including the preterm, sick, at risk and well neonate to promote the best possible health outcomes. The family is central to the care of the neonate and should be involved and empowered as partners in care.
The use of Artificial Intelligence in Neonatal Nursing
In the evolving realm of healthcare communications, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to bring about transformative changes. However, the incorporation of AI into healthcare practices should not deviate from the fundamental objectives of patient care; foundational principles such as compassion, trust, and caring form the core of relationships. The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) strongly recommends that healthcare providers conscientiously assess how AI is integrated into their practice, considering its potential benefits and risks to both individual and population health outcomes.
The use and Promotion of Breast-Milk Substitutes
The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) supports the aims of the World Health Organization (WHO) “International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes” (WHO, 1981) and the World Health Assembly resolutions to promote and protect breastfeeding as the best form of nutrition for all neonates, especially sick and/or premature neonates. This statement supports a safe use of breast milk substitutes when required.
International Recruitment of Nurses
The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) supports individual neonatal nurses’ rights to travel and work in other countries. COINN recognises that countries facing pressing health workforce challenges related to universal health coverage must be supported and provided with safeguards that discourage active and unethical international recruitment of nurses, and that highincome countries must work to grow, sustain, and manage their own neonatal nursing workforce effectively to meet the increasing demand.
Violence against Women and Children
Violence against women and children is an urgent priority to protect their rights to a safe and nurturing environment. Nurses, facilities and associations have a responsibility to provide information and advocate for the elimination of violence and to support healthy relationships.
Promotion of Sleep
The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) recommends that a neonate’s sleep is to be protected and supported. Sleep is important for brain development, growth, healing, and general health. The protection of sleep post-delivery and during the period of hospitalization particularly for premature neonates, is a core component of neonatal care.
Research Involving Neonates
COINN supports the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association, 2013) agreement that states neonates belong to a vulnerable group and therefore encourage research to be conducted only if it benefits the neonates. Surrogates (parents / legal guardians) should give informed and voluntary consent on behalf of the neonates. All research must be approved by an appropriate ethical committee for the protection of the neonates and families.
Care of the Well Term Neonate
The Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) is the international voice of neonatal nurses who provide care during this vulnerable period. To address identified gaps in current practice COINN supports and recommends the following basic care for the well-term infant.
Provision of Safe Neonatal Care
The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) believes that neonatal nurses (and nonspecialist nurses providing neonatal care) play an integral role in caring and advocating for safe neonatal and maternal care. This should be high quality timely care, that meets the physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and social needs of the neonate and family. Nurses who care for neonates and their family should be provided appropriate education and training to deliver safe care suitable to their setting (Maleki et al., 2022). Neonatal nurses have a critical role in protecting the maternal/neonatal dyad (Lavallée et al., 2023) and in facilitating the attachment process through the quality of their care (Kim & Kim, 2022).
Keeping babies and their parents together
The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) believes that every baby worldwide should have an optimal start in life and that parents are an integral part of this. It is undisputed that involvement of parents is of paramount importance and integrating infant and family-centered developmental care (IFCDC) as a core standard for neonatal care is essential– in particular for the most vulnerable infants such as preterm, sick, and low birthweight babies (European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI), 2021; Global Alliance for Newborn Health (GLANCE), 2021).
Pre-Service Orientation of Registered Nurses and Midwives to Neonatal Units
The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) recommends that nurse/midwife orientation include a standardized orientation process which can be tailored to meet the individual nurse/midwife’s needs. The standardized orientation includes: didactic learning, neonatal skills, case discussions and scenarios, simulation with debriefing. These are considered to be essential to meet the neonatal nurse /midwifery competency standards required to care for small and sick newborns. The orientation period should be individualized dependent on the knowledge and experience of the orientee but requires a minimum of a standardized 12-week orientation process. Ideally a dedicated experienced neonatal nurse should be assigned as a preceptor to each orientee.