LAUSR

Abstract As part of the IMH workforce, neonatal nurses can be looked upon as the frontline in the early detection and intervention of IMH disorders. However, application to the neonatal nurses’ scope of practice is not widely understood. This manuscript reviewed IMH intervention research to conceptualize how to advance the role of neonatal nurses as IMH allied professionals. Nine-teen studies met inclusion criteria relevant to the neonatal-infancy period. Each intervention was categorized per level of prevention and then assessed for level of risk based on social-demographic, maternal and infant related factors. Neonatal nursing specific interventions were not addressed among the interventions in this review. Despite this gap, this review supports that nurse professionals serve as interventionist for infants at risk for IMH disorders. The nursing process is provided to conceptualize the early detection and intervention of IMH in neonatal nursing.