What is the NICU?
NICU stands for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It is a unit for critically ill and premature newborn infants. Babies in the NICU can range from 23 to 35 weeks gestational age (preterm or premature) and 36+ weeks gestational age (full-term).
There are 4 different levels of neonatal intensive care units. They are:
Each level can accommodate a specific degree of complications and illnesses.
NICU Admission Criteria
An infant can be admitted to the neonatal ICU for numerous reasons. Some of the more common ones are listed here:
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Clubfoot
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Coarctation of the Aorta
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Duodenal Atresia
- Esophageal Atresia
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
- Gastroschisis
- Hirschsprung’s Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydronephrosis
- Hydrops Fetalis
- Hypoglycemia
- Imperforate Anus
- Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
- Meconium Aspiration
- MRSA
- Meningitis
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
- Omphalocele
- Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)
- Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)
- Pneumothorax
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Spina Bifida
- Syphilis
- Tachypnea
- Trisomy 18
- Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome)
- Turner Syndrome
- Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
There are many other reasons not listed here, so make sure to ask the NICU nurse, neonatal nurse practitioner or neonatologist in the NICU.
NICU Staff
- Specialized Doctors called Neonatologists
- Pediatricians
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNP)
- Specialized Neonatal Nurses
- Respiratory Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Nutritionists /Dieticians
- Lactation Nurses (for breastfeeding help)
NICU Non-Medical Personnel
- Social Workers
- Outcomes Management Workers (Administrative Nurses who handle insurance issues)
- Spiritual Health /Religious Health Workers
Neonatal Intensive Care Units are the most advanced critical newborn infant care units. They can be overwhelming at first, but parents find comfort in knowing that their baby is being cared for with the the utmost skill and knowledge, and is being given the best chance at recovering from whatever difficult condition that has presented itself to them.
