Indicators nurses employ in deciding to test for hyperbilirubinemia

To identify the indicators nurses employ in deciding to test healthy full-term newborns for total serum bilirubin in the absence of a written protocol.

Secondary analysis of data available on 130 mother-newborn pairs and informal interviews of 30 postpartum unit nurses.

Two university teaching hospitals.

All tested newborns and a 33% random sample of remaining newborns from a control group data set created during a previous study and a convenience sample of postpartum nurses from all shifts.

Outcome data were obtained from a review of records. Background data were obtained from a review of records and questionnaires. Nurse data were obtained through a modified form of participant observation.

Ninety-one percent of newborns tested for bilirubin were tested unnecessarily. In logistic regression analyses, variables predictive of nurse-driven total serum bilirubin testing were presence of jaundice, odds ratio (OR) = 31.95 (95% confidence interval, 6.71, 152.03), and feeding frequency, OR = 0.28 (0.11, 0.72). Identifying both presence and location of jaundice simultaneously did not significantly predict testing, OR = 1.82 (0.66, 5.04). Fifty-three percent of nurses who were interviewed identified both the presence of jaundice and feeding as indicators to consider for testing.

Newborns are overtested for bilirubin. Indicators used by nurses in deciding to test a healthy newborn for total serum bilirubin are the presence of jaundice and feeding frequency. Nurses who assess feeding frequency are less likely to order bilirubin testing.