Comprehensive Neonatal Nursing Care, Seventh Edition

Global expertise and evidence-based guidance for neonatal care professionals

This essential resource delivers a comprehensive, physiologic and pathophysiologic approach to neonatal care, authored by internationally recognized leaders in the field. It equips clinicians with the latest research, clinical strategies, and integrative management techniques to support high-quality care for newborns and their families. The seventh edition reflects the evolving global landscape of neonatal nursing, emphasizing developmental care, family integration, and emerging technologies. +Additional chapters and resources are available online, expanding the depth and accessibility of this trusted reference.

Designed for both bedside practitioners and advanced practice nurses, this edition supports clinical decision-making through detailed system-based coverage, evidence-based interventions, and interdisciplinary perspectives. It also addresses the growing need for global standards in neonatal care, offering insights into international protocols, ethical considerations, and competency-based education. Whether used in academic settings or clinical environments, this resource fosters excellence in neonatal outcomes and professional development.

What’s New

• New chapters on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Trauma-Informed Care in the NICU
• New chapter on the Newborn or Infant Transplant Patient
• Expanded coverage of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and developmental care standards
• New content on artificial intelligence in diagnostics and climate change impacts
• Updated guidance on couplet care, neurobehavioral development, and family support

Key Features

• Covers every neonatal body system with physiologic and embryologic foundations
• Supports development of core competencies and evidence-based clinical decision-making
• Includes case studies, QSEN-aligned safety content, and stories from the voice of the parent to provide a different perspective on neonatal care
• Authored by a globally respected team of neonatal nursing experts

Carole Kenner, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP, ANEF, IDFCOINN is the Carol Kuser Loser Dean/Professor of the School of ­Nursing and Health Sciences at The College of New Jersey. Dr. Kenner received a ­bachelors of science in nursing from the University of Cincinnati and her master’s and doctorate in nursing from Indiana University. She specialized in neonatal/perinatal nursing for her master’s and obtained a minor in higher education for her doctorate. She has authored more than 200 journal articles and 40 textbooks. 

Leslie B. Altimier, DNP, RN, MSN, NE-BC, is the Regional Director of Neonatal Services at SSM Health: Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, MO. She received her BSN from Kent State University, MSN from the University of North Carolina, and DNP from Northeastern University in Boston, and she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in compassionate healthcare through Northeastern University in collaboration with the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare and the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare. In her 30-year nursing career, she has specialized in neonatal and pediatric intensive care, and most recently, she is the Regional Director of Neonatal Services at SSM Health: Cardinal Glennon Children's & St. Mary’s Hospitals in St. Louis, MO.  

Marina V. Boykova, PhD, RN, FNAP is an associate professor of nursing in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Holy Family University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Boykova received her Diploma in Nursing Practice from the School of Nursing #3, Saint ­Petersburg, Russia; a Certificate in Theory and Practice of Nurse Education, Medical College #1, Saint Petersburg, Russia; a Certificate in Theory and Practice of Nurse Education, Chester, United Kingdom; Bachelor of Science with Honours in Professional Practice (Nursing), ­University of Liverpool, Chester, United Kingdom; Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing, Novgorod ­University of Y. Mudrogo, Novgorod, Russia; Master of Science in Health Promotion (Distinction), University of Liverpool, Chester, United Kingdom; and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, ­Oklahoma. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN), National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN), National Academies of Practice (NAP), Eastern Nursing Research Society, and the American Nurses Association. She serves as a nonexecutive director for the Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN). She is a member of the COINN Research Committee, the World Health Organization (WHO) STAGE Midwifery Working Group on Transitioning to Midwifery Models of Care. She is a fellow in the National Academies of Practice (NAP). Dr. Boykova’s clinical background is neonatal intensive care nursing. Her research interests center on transition from hospital to home and to primary care for parents of preterm infants. She has published over 40 journal articles, over 20 book chapters, and co-edited three textbooks. She coauthored a policy brief on Reducing Preterm Births for the American Academy of Nursing.