Legal issues related to stabilization and transport of the critically ill neonate.

The growth of neonatal transport has led to the development of new legal implications for nursing practice. Nurses involved in transport must be well versed in the skills required for safe and effective transfer to defend successfully against claims of negligence. Transport nurses must also have a thorough knowledge of the scope of practice permitted in each state through which transport occurs and regulatory statutes related to neonatal transfer. A quality assurance and improvement program is an essential component of neonatal transport and can be an effective risk management strategy. The article delineates the legal consequences of neonatal transport and describes important elements in risk reduction for the transport team.