Course Description
The first days and weeks of life are critical to long-term health, growth, and development. This course provides an overview of essential newborn care, including comprehensive newborn assessment, breastfeeding support, common newborn medical conditions, and the specialized needs of premature infants. Learners will examine normal newborn findings, recognize signs of common neonatal health concerns such as jaundice, congenital heart disease, respiratory distress, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), and explore evidence-based approaches to monitoring growth, nutrition, and development.
The course also reviews ongoing care considerations for premature infants, including vaccination, nutrition, developmental surveillance, and family education. Emphasis is placed on the medical assistant’s role in supporting newborns, caregivers, and the healthcare team through observation, patient education, and coordinated care.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:
- Identify and define the seven areas to be evaluated in a comprehensive newborn examination
- Recognize basic information related to breastfeeding as well as interventions to support its implementation
- Identify and understand the symptoms, diagnosis, management, complications, and prevention of six major illnesses and conditions that affect newborns, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, heart disease, hip dysplasia, gastrointestinal problems, jaundice, and respiratory distress
- Identify and understand the initial care of premature infants
- Describe the care of premature infants after discharge
- Identify and describe the long-term effects of prematurity
- Identify the prognosis for premature infants
What’s IncludedeLearning course with a milestone practice test, downloadable companion eHandbook, and downloadable fact sheet.
American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
Developed this educational program and companion resources addressing newborn assessment, neonatal conditions, breastfeeding, prematurity, and preventive care.
This course is designed for medical assistants, CMA (AAMA) professionals, allied health professionals, medical assisting students, and ambulatory care team members who provide care for newborns and infants. Learners will strengthen their ability to support newborn health, educate caregivers, recognize common neonatal concerns, and contribute to coordinated, family-centered care.