Developing an early intervention program for infants at risk

Technological advances have increased the chances of survival for infants weighing less than 1,500 grams, some with minimal residual problems. For those infants whose weights are greater than 1,000 grams, the chances that they will come through their neonatal period with only minor problems has increased significantly over the past decade. To offset the stress of an early birth, early intervention programs have investigated the effects of environmental manipulations on the behavior and development of these at-risk infants. Nurses are in an excellent position to design and implement interventions to enhance the infant’s potential toward normalcy and to evalute the impact of the interventions through research. The purpose of this article is to provide direction for research strategies and clinical practice for nurses working with at-risk infants. Issues related to four major areas (methodological approach, objectives of intervention, the strategies of the intervention, and program evaluation) are identified, some options for early intervention are noted, and strategies to develop an appropriate intervention program are outlined. @ 1988 by Grune &Stratton, Inc.