The members of a highly skilled neonatal resuscitation team must be ready to respond when necessary. Institutions should create protocols so that these teams are available and on the scene whenever they are needed. Over time, team members learn the roles of other team members and can adjust duties if required.

Teamwork is essential for a resuscitation team to perform effectively.

While the mother with a high-risk baby is still in labor, the team performs a preresuscitation briefing. They understand the clinical situation of the mother and the baby and produce an action plan. The team identifies perinatal risk factors and anticipates the outcome of the newly born. 

A team leader is assigned. The leader must be able to command the scene and delegate the interventions. One team member is assigned the task of documenting all the actions that occur. This documentation becomes the team leader’s roadmap.

Another team member ensures that all the necessary supplies and equipment are available and functioning. The team may identify a need to seek expert consultation or obtain additional help. Institutional protocols must provide for the quick response of an assigned neonatologist or another essential specialist.

The Roles of the Team

In any resuscitation effort, particularly neonatal resuscitation, all team members must understand their roles and the roles of other team members. The most effective teams have a team leader with an in-depth knowledge of neonatal resuscitation who:

• Provides comprehensive care for the newborn
• Knows the roles of each team member and can perform all functions of the team if needed
• Monitors and coaches team members during the resuscitation process
• Models team communication and behavior

Resuscitation is a team effort.

Well-trained team members are critical for the efficient operation of the team. Each team member must:

• Understand their role on the team
• Perform their role expertly
• Understand how their role interfaces with other team roles
• Ask for assistance when needed
• Communicate effectively with the team leader and other team members

Elements of team dynamics that must be in place during resuscitation include clear communication, understanding roles and responsibilities, recognizing limitations, appropriate and timely intervention when needed, exquisite sharing of knowledge, respect among team members, and periodic reassessment of the neonate.

Each team member must have a specific role and assigned tasks during the resuscitation. The team leader should assign these roles according to each member’s expertise. If the assignment does not coincide with a team member’s skills, it is the team member’s responsibility to inform the team leader.

 Typical roles in a resuscitation include:

• Team leader
• Airway management
• Medication management
• Venous access
• CPR compressions
• Recorder