Background: In Egypt the neonatal mortality is 25 per 1000 live births. Half the deaths
occurred in the first two days of life. Immediate assessment of the newborn helps to
determine the initial condition, establishes a baseline for subsequent care, and identifies
potential and existing problems and ensures the newborn adaptation to extrautrine life is
progressing normally. An important component of assessment is the investigation done for
hypocalcemia. . The nurse must be able to know how to perform essential basic interventions
and to take care of the hypocalcemic infant. Skilled care and early identification of problems
could reduce the incidence of death and disability. Aim: To assess the neonatal condition and
detect cases of hypocalcaemia. Setting: This study was carried out in the obstetric hospital
and NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit), at Zagazig University Hospital, on 100 newborn
infants. Sample: Twenty nurses were selected for the training program which was designed to
upgrade nurse's knowledge and skills pertaining to neonatal assessment and detection of
hypocalcemia. Results: The majority of neonates were normal. Meanwhile, prematurity, still
birth and twins accounted for 26.5%, 3.9% and 3.9%, respectively. The incidence of
hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia accounted for 29.6% and 27.6%, respectively. At the pretest,
and before the educational program implementation, the percent knowledge scores were
low for most nurses. However, significant improvement in nurses' knowledge an practice,
regarding assessment of neonates with detection of hypocalcemia, was noted at the post-test
and it recommended that the education training program is effective in increasing the
knowledge and practice of nurses pertaining to the assessment of the newborn infants and the
detection and management of neonatal hypocalcemia and neonatal assessment. In
Conclusion: The education – training program is effective in increasing the knowledge and
practice of nurses pertaining to the assessment of the newborn infants and the detection and
management of neonatal hypocalcemia. Recommendation: It was recommended that
maternity nurse should be alert for early detection and identification of risk factors of the
newborn. Proper care is needed during prenatal, natal and postnatal periods to prevent most
neonatal complications. Implementation of the developed training program for all nurses in
labor departments is suggested.