Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Staff Roles
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU is a specialist ward dealing with very young babies who have been born prematurely, or developed problems during or after birth. It can be a very daunting and scary place for new parents who instead of getting to welcome their newborn into their home, find themselves in an intensive care ward surrounded by intensive care equipment
To cope with what can be a very traumatic experience it often helps to familiarise with your surroundings. There will be many different people on the ward and knowing what each one does and what they are responsible for can be reassuring.
There have been many advances in intensive care treatment in recent years and there are many specialist roles within these units. When you and your baby arrive on the ward, you will be assigned a Primary Nurse. Nurses on NICUs are specially trained and are well qualified and experienced in dealing with all aspects of newborn care. This nurse will be your first point of contact and will be able to coordinate all aspects of your baby`s care; you should not hesitate to ask your Primary Nurse any question in relation to the care and treatment of your baby. Having an assigned nurse provides continuity of care for your baby. It can also be particularly reassuring to parents to have a single and immediate point of contact with one person who understands the background and circumstances of their baby`s condition.
The person in overall charge of the ward is called the Charge Nurse or the Nurse Manager; it is their job to ensure that the ward runs smoothly. They will also be highly qualified and experienced in their field and will be able to answer any questions or address any concerns.
You may also come in to contact with a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. This nurse will have additional training in neonatology care and will be able to perform some treatments etc that your assigned Primary Nurse may not be able to do
The above nurses will be responsible for the day to day care of your baby during their time in the NICU. However, your baby may also need treatment from specialist Doctors such as a neonatologist or a paediatrician. Caring for small babies is not at all like treating adults and these Doctors specialise in treating babies and newborns.
As well as all these specialists you may also come in to contact with general hospital staff such as neurologists or cardiologists who specialise in specific issues with the brain and the heart (respectively). You may also meet social workers and other therapists who will provide assistance in relation to caring for your baby at home and help with feeding which can be an issue with very small babies
We put so much effort into making sure that our home is ready for these new additions to our families. We make our homes child friendly and buy specialist furniture such as cots and http://www.thechildrensfurniturecompany.com/childrens-beds.asp
childrens beds and we can`t wait to begin these new chapters in our lives. But, when life throws us a curved ball, it is often the help and care of the specialist Doctors, Nurses and other staff in the NICU that help make those dreams a reality.