Implementing the Use of Donor Milk in the Hospital Setting: Implications for Nurses

Breast milk is the ideal choice for neonates, particularly for the more vulnerable neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). When milk from the mother is not available, pasteurized donor milk is an important option, because it maintains many of its health benefits after pasteurization. Yet there are barriers to implementing the use of donor milk at a hospital. This article discusses the implementation of a donor program for pasteurized donor breast milk in the NICUs of three hospitals.